Certified vs Non-Certified Legal Translations: What’s the Difference?

As discussed in our last blog: Key Challenges in Legal Translations, legal translations are complex. This is due to the legal terminologies and legal concepts involved. It is integral for legal translations to be translated by professional and certified translators. It is dependent on the context and type of documents when one is hit with the question of which translations to opt for: Certified or Non-certified Legal Translations. It is important to understand the difference between the two to conserve time and avoid serious legal complications.

Certified Legal Translations

Certified legal translations refer to those translations that are verified and certified by translators or translator agencies as accurate and authentic to the best of their knowledge.

In addition to this, certified legal translations are legally binding as they are recognized by official bodies including courts and government agencies among others. These translations are provided by certified translators possessing specific qualifications through recognized professional bodies. 

Documents Used in Certified Legal Translations

Some of the documents that certified legal translations are used for are listed below:

1. Immigration Papers
2. Birth Certificates
3. Court Documents
4. Marriage Certificates

Non-Certified Legal Translations

Non-certified legal translations refer to those translations of documents that are not officially certified for accuracy and authenticity. The translations are most often carried out by translators who are not certified by recognized bodies but are proficient in the source and target languages. 

These translations are mainly used for purposes like general information or personal use rather than those which are of official bodies. These documents do not involve any legal implications such as internal company documents which are used within the organization. Additionally, these translations can be used for translating general legal information for one’s personal use. 

Core Differences Between Certified and Non-Certified Translations

As we continue to talk about the main differences between the two, Authenticity and Verification hold crucial roles as certified translations are involved in a verification procedure to be labeled as certified whereas non-certified translations do not undergo this process. 

Additionally, certified translations hold legal importance as they are recognized by official bodies including courts and government bodies whereas non-certified translations are not recognized by these bodies and hence, cannot be used in legal proceedings. 

Lastly, certified legal translations are ensured to be processed by translators possessing specific certifications from recognized bodies whereas, non-certified legal translations are not necessarily produced by translators who are certified.

Which Type of Translation to Opt For?

When it comes to deciding which translation to opt for, certain factors have to be weighed accordingly. It also involves assessing the legal requirements for which the type of translation is to be decided. These can be discussed with legal consultants and experts further involving assessing the type of documents that need to be translated. When legal or official documents are required to be translated such as those involving submission to formal institutions, certified translations should be opted for. 

Similarly, non-certified translations should be opted for when the documents are not used for legal or formal purposes. When the translations are required for internal documents not involving legal or formal purposes, non-certified translations are suitable to be opted for. 

Conclusion

There are different purposes for both certified and non-certified translations. Both are required in different contexts. Certified translations may be opted for when legal authenticity is required whereas non-certified translations may be opted for internal documents. It is crucial to understand and choose the right type of translation as necessitated by the requirements.

At TransLinguist, our experienced legal translators are trained to handle the complexities of legal documents, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and precision. Whether you need a certified translation for court proceedings or a non-certified translation for internal review, we have got you covered. Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can assist you further.