Legal document translation
Certified Legal Translation Services for UK Court & Legal Use
Translate contracts, court papers, statements and other legal documents with careful terminology, consistent names and dates, and a signed certification statement where required.
Legal and court documents
Signed certification statement
Requirements reviewed before work begins
Certification
Signed and dated accuracy statement
Subject matter
Legal documents and specialist terminology
Quotations
Price based on your actual documents
Requirements
Intended use reviewed before translation
Clear explanation
What Is a Certified Legal Translation?
A certified legal translation combines the careful translation of legal content with a formal certification statement confirming that the translated text is a true and accurate translation of the original document.
Our legal translation service may be required when foreign-language legal documents are submitted to a court, solicitor, government body, business, professional adviser or another organisation that needs formal confirmation of translation accuracy.
Certification requirements are not identical in every situation. The receiving organisation, court procedure, country of use and document type can affect the format required.
UK court and legal use
Check the Requirement Before the Translation Is Prepared
UK translation requirements can vary according to the court, proceeding and intended use. Providing the recipient's instructions at the beginning helps the correct format to be considered.
What a certification statement commonly needs to identify
UK government guidance for certified translations refers to written confirmation that the translation is true and accurate, together with the translation date and the translator's identifying and contact information.
Certain court procedures can require additional details, so any specific directions should be supplied with the source document.
01
Tell us where the document will be used
State the court, solicitor, authority, company or other recipient whenever that information is available.
02
Send any written submission instructions
Include court directions, filing instructions, solicitor requirements or wording supplied by the receiving organisation.
03
Confirm whether further formalisation is required
If the recipient mentions notarisation, legalisation or an apostille, flag this before translation so the requirement can be reviewed.
A certified translation should not be described as automatically accepted in every legal
situation. The final requirement is determined by the organisation or procedure receiving it.
Legal documents
Documents We Can Review for Legal Translation
Legal translation may involve individual certificates, court documents, commercial agreements or extensive supporting records. Send your exact document type if it is not shown below.
Witness Statements
Affidavits & Sworn Statements
Contracts & Agreements
Powers of Attorney
Divorce & Family Law Documents
Property & Land Registry Documents
Probate & Estate Documents
Company & Corporate Documents
Legal Correspondence & Notices
Police & Official Records
Patent & IP Documents
Who the service is for
Legal Translation for Professional and Personal Matters
Solicitors & Law Firms
Court papers, statements, client records, agreements, correspondence and supporting evidence requiring precise legal terminology.
Businesses & In-House Teams
Contracts, corporate records, commercial terms, regulatory documents and legal material used in cross-border business.
Individuals & Families
Divorce documents, powers of attorney, probate records, official correspondence and other personal legal documentation.
Cross-Border Requirements
Documents moving between languages and jurisdictions where the receiving organisation has specified translation or certification requirements.
Choose the correct format
Certified, Notarised or Apostilled?
These terms describe different requirements. They should not be treated as interchangeable.
Translation with an accuracy statement
The translated document is accompanied by a signed and dated certification statement confirming that it is a true and accurate translation of the original.
An additional formal step
Some recipients request notarisation in addition to translation certification. The exact arrangement depends on the recipient and intended use.
Authentication for certain international uses
Some documents intended for use abroad require authentication in addition to translation. Confirm the destination country's requirements before ordering.
Our process
How Certified Legal Translation Works
01
Send Your Files
Upload the full document or send a clear scan together with the source and target language.
02
Scope & Quote
The document type, intended use, volume, language pair, deadline and certification requirements are reviewed before quotation.
03
Translation & Review
The legal content is translated and checked for terminology, names, dates, figures, completeness and consistency.
04
Certification & Delivery
The completed translation is prepared with the agreed certification and delivery format.
Prepare your request
What to Send Us
Providing the complete document and its intended use helps the scope, certification format, quotation and available turnaround to be assessed correctly from the beginning.
- The complete document including every page that needs translation.
- A readable scan or photograph so names, stamps, notes and figures can be assessed.
- The source and target language required for the final translation.
- The intended recipient or use such as a court, solicitor, business or authority.
- Your required deadline and any fixed filing or submission date.
- Additional instructions concerning certification, formatting, notarisation or legalisation.
Quote and delivery
Legal Translation Pricing & Turnaround
The most useful quotation is based on the actual legal document rather than a generic price. Send your files and deadline so the available options can be reviewed.
What Affects the Price?
- Document type: a short certificate and a complex legal agreement require different levels of work.
- Volume: page count, word count and the number of files can affect the quotation.
- Language pair: availability varies between common and specialist language combinations.
- Complexity: specialist terminology, handwriting, tables and formatting can affect the scope.
- Additional requirements: certification, printing, notarisation or legalisation may affect the final quotation.
What Affects the Turnaround?
- Length: longer documents and evidence bundles require more translation and checking time.
- Legal complexity: dense or specialist material may require additional terminology review.
- Language availability: some combinations have different scheduling requirements.
- Formatting: complex source layouts can require more preparation before delivery.
- Your deadline: send any court, filing or completion deadline when requesting the quote.
Accuracy and presentation
Details That Matter in Legal Documents
Legal translation requires more than substituting words between languages. Terminology, consistency and document details need to remain clear throughout the completed translation.
Terminology is handled in context rather than translated mechanically.
Important document details are checked for consistency throughout the file.
The certification format is prepared according to the agreed service requirement.
The translated document is organised so it can be reviewed and compared with the source material.
Common questions
Certified Legal Translation FAQs
Send your document and the recipient's instructions if your requirement is more specific than the examples below.
What is a certified legal translation?
It is a legal document translation supplied with a signed and dated statement confirming that the translation is a true and accurate translation of the original document.
Can a certified legal translation be used in a UK court?
It can be used where the translation and certification meet the requirements of the relevant court and procedure. Requirements are not identical in every case, so provide any court order, practice direction or solicitor instructions with your document.
What information is normally included in a certified translation?
UK guidance commonly refers to confirmation that the translation is true and accurate, the date of translation and the translator's full name and contact details. Some legal procedures may require additional information.
Do I also need notarisation or an apostille?
Not necessarily. Some recipients require only a certified translation, while others request notarisation, legalisation or an apostille. Confirm the requirement with the organisation receiving the document and send its instructions before ordering.
Which legal documents can you translate?
Common requests include contracts, agreements, court orders, judgments, witness statements, affidavits, powers of attorney, property records, divorce documents, company records and legal correspondence. Other legal documents can be sent for assessment.
Can I send a scan or photograph of my legal document?
A clear scan or photograph can be sent for initial review and quotation. Every relevant page should be legible, including stamps, signatures, handwritten notes and marginal text where they form part of the document.
How much does certified legal translation cost?
Pricing depends on factors such as the document type, language pair, length, legal complexity, formatting, required turnaround and any additional certification or formalisation. Send the files for a quotation based on the actual scope.
How quickly can a legal translation be completed?
Available turnaround depends on the language pair, volume, complexity, formatting and required service. Include your filing, court or submission deadline when sending the document so the available options can be assessed.
Start your request
Have a Legal Document Ready for Translation?
Send the complete document, source and target language, intended use and required deadline. The team can review the requirement and provide a quotation before the project begins.