Certification, legalisation and apostilles.
How many times have you heard these words and thought “How confusing!”.
Finding your way through the maze of legal translations is not always easy: today, dear friends of STUDIOTRE, we will clear things up a little in this article.
What is a sworn translation?
A sworn translation has many synonyms: certification, sworn legal translation, official translation… but what actually is it?
It is a translation that has the value and validity of the original document.
It is always accompanied by an affidavit in which the translator declares – before a notary or a judicial officer – that they have faithfully translated the original document that was assigned to them and accepts legal liability for the work carried out.
The translation must correspond to the source document, in particular:
- there can be no omissions or changes;
- when certain parts of the text must be omitted, the word [omitted] must be included;
- any stamps, seals, logos and watermarks must be translated or indicated with the word “illegible”, if they cannot be understood;
- if the original language uses a different alphabet, it must be checked that any names and place names in the translation follow the transliteration used in other official documents in that person’s or company’s possession.
Which documents is a sworn translation needed for?
A sworn translation is needed for any document sent to an authority or body, which involves individuals from different countries and languages, for example:
- legal documents and deeds,
- proxies,
- power of attorneys,
- tenders and any relative technical documentation,
- financial statements,
- certificates (birth/death, marriage/divorce),
- driving licences and passports,
- residence permits,
- academic certificates, report cards and diplomas,
- medical records,
- criminal records and pending charges.
What is legalisation?
Legalisation of a sworn translation is proof of the authenticity of the signature and public official title of the person who signed the document.
Authentication is obtained at the legal representative’s or regional government’s office; once legalised, the document must be taken to the consulate of the relevant country, which will legalise the signature of the legal representative/regional government officer.
What is an apostille?
This process is applied, instead of legalisation, between member states of the Apostille Convention of 5 October 1961. It is a certification that confirms authenticity without any further steps with the competent consulate.
Who can produce a sworn translation?
A sworn translation can only be produced by court-registered expert translators.
Would you like to get in touch with a certified language partner who can guide you through the world of legal translations and help you when you have to produce a sworn translation? Send us an email (mail@traduzionistudiotre.it) or call us (+39 0522 323434).
