Blog: To swear or not to swear?

8th April 2011

Lately we’ve had an increased number of requests for ‘certified’ translations. In our experience, certification is a pretty grey area and one which can vary a great deal depending on the nature of the document, language combination, and the purpose of the translation.

Types of documents that may need certification include birth, marriage and death certificates, divorce decrees, academic transcripts/certificates and contracts.

Although there is no such thing as a ‘sworn’ or ‘certified’ translator in the UK, we can arrange the following:

  • Certified translations – we translate your documents and return them with a letter on our company paper to confirm they are true and correct representations of the originals.
  • Notarised/sworn translations – we translate your documents and attend the offices of a public notary or solicitor to declare in writing and on oath that they are true and correct representations of the originals.
  • Legalised translations – translations are notarised/sworn and subsequently submitted to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who checks the signature/seal/stamp and attaches an apostille.

If you do need translations for legal or official purposes, please remember to allow plenty of time – not only because we may need to book an appointment with our local solicitor/notary, but because translations will have to be returned by post.

The most important thing to remember is that although we’re happy to offer advice based on past experience, we are by no means legal experts and it’s always best to check with the relevant organisation or authorities to find out exactly what type of certification you require.
For a free quotation, please call 0800 321 3604 or contact us online.

"Ways With Words are a pleasure to work with. No matter how difficult the project they approach each job with enthusiasm and a 'can-do' attitude. This is particularly important to a company like ours, where we often work to tight deadlines under great pressure. In our experience, Ways With Words deliver on time, on budget, to an excellent standard... every time."
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