Requirements for Certified Translations Submitted to UK Courts

Requirements for Certified Translations Submitted to UK Courts

When a document is submitted to a UK court and is not in English or Welsh, it should be accompanied by a ‘certified translation’. But what is a certified translation?

In essence, a certified translation is a translation of a document that has been made by a qualified translator and certified as an accurate translation of the original document. But who is a qualified translator? And who does the certifying?

Requirements for Certified Translations Submitted to UK Courts

There is a lack of standardisation in how UK public organisations accept certified translations, and there are no specific regulations governing the requirements for certified translations submitted to UK courts. However, there are some general guidelines that should be followed:

·       The translation must be complete and accurate.

·       The translation must be certified by a qualified translator.

·       The certification must state that the translation is an accurate translation of the original document.

·       The certification must be signed and dated.

·       The certification must include contact information.

Translated documents submitted to a UK court should be complete and accurate, and certified as such - responsibility for meeting the requirements for documentation and obtaining the correct level of certification lies with the purchaser of the translation, not the translator or translation provider; however, a provider should be able to help advise on the best course of action.

Differences Between Official, Sworn, Certified, and Notarised Translations in a UK Context

Official translation: An 'official' translation is generally defined as a translation that has been stamped by an authority. 'Official' requirements vary from country to country, depending on that country’s particular legal system. In the context of the UK, an ‘official’ translation most often refers to a ‘certified’ translation.

Sworn translation: Some jurisdictions operate a ‘sworn translation’ system, mostly civil law countries wherein sworn translators are appointed and accredited by the relevant government authorities. In the UK, as a common law country, there is no such thing as a sworn translator/sworn translation system.

Certified translation: A certified translation is a translation that has been performed by a qualified translator and certified as an accurate translation of the original document.

Notarised translation: A notarised translation is a translation that has been signed and stamped by a notary public. The Notary Public checks the identity of the translator or translation company representative and attaches a notarial certificate to the translation. It is important that the notarial certificate does not endorse the quality of the translation itself, rather it can only confirm that the identity of the translator/translation company representative were verified by them.

Legalised/Apostilled translation: An Apostille is a document in the UK issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) which verifies the authenticity of the signature on an official document and ensures that it will be recognised as an official document in all States that have signed the Hague Convention of 1961. Generally speaking, is most often the original document that bears the Apostille, with the Apostille verifying the authenticity of the signature thereupon; it does not endorse the content of the document.

In the UK, there is no legal difference between a certified translation and a sworn translation. Both types of translations are accepted by UK courts. However, some foreign countries may specifically require a sworn translation.

Additional Tips for Submitting Certified Translations to UK Courts

·       Double check with the court regarding any specific certification requirements they may have.

·       Provide the court with a copy of the original document as well as the certified translation.

·       Make sure that the certified translation is legible and easy to read.

·       If the certified translation is more than one page long, staple the pages together and number them consecutively.

Conclusion

When submitting a certified translation to a UK court, it is important to ensure that the translation meets all of the requirements of the sitting court and presiding judge and it is therefore very important to check with the court to see if they have any specific requirements for certified translations above and beyond the very generalised guidance provided for on Gov.uk.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your certified translations are accepted by UK courts and that they can be used effectively in legal proceedings.

IMD Translation Ltd

We were established by solicitors, for solicitors, to provide top notch legal language services. At IMD we provide our company certification as standard alongside all of our human translations, and can provide additional types of certification where requested.

If you have a legal translation need, get in touch for a free non-obligatory quotation and a chat around your requirements today at info@imdtranslation.co.uk or 03309121530