In the United States, a certified translation consists of a statement signed by either the
translator or the translation company representative and notarized by a Notary Public, attesting
that the translation is believed to be accurate and complete.
In an effort to guarantee public defense, in the U.S. if a person is charged to appear before
the court because of summons or arrest, it is the responsibility of the courts to provide
interpretation and/or sight translation. This is subsequently put into writing within the official
transcript of the court proceedings.
In general for all other cases, the party presenting documents in a language that is not the
language of the court is responsible for the translation of said documents on behalf of the client.
Annexed to the translated document must be an affidavit or exhibit stating the qualifications of the
translator and attesting to the accuracy of the translation, under pain of perjury, before an
authorized officer. This can be presented in three forms:
- Certificate of Accuracy: a notarized corporate certification attesting to the accuracy
of the translated document.
- Affidavit of Translation: a notarized affidavit signed by the translator, stating the
qualifications of the translator and attesting to the accuracy of the translated document, signed
by the translator before an authorized officer.
- Apostille and Certification: An apostille is used by foreign governments to assess the
authenticity of an official signature. It is only recognized by countries who have signed the
Convention of the Hague. For those countries who are not signatories, the Department of State
attaches a certification. A certification performs the same duty as an apostille; however, its
appearance and places of use are different.
Please discuss your specific needs with your account manager. Although the documents serve the same
purpose, substituting one type of certification for another other may hinder the use of your documents.
It is essential that you inform us as to where the documents will be used.
Please note that Junction International can provide advise based on our experience, however if you
are hesitant as to what kind of certification is required, you must check with the court with which
you are filing.
