Legal Document Translation

Certified Translation of Legal Documents

Updated: April 2026 · Reviewed by specialist

Specialist certified translation for contracts, court orders, powers of attorney, and civil certificates. Accepted by courts, USCIS, and Spanish authorities. Sworn (jurado) translators for Spain.

  • Specialist legal translators
  • Accepted by courts and USCIS
  • Sworn translators for Spain
  • Notarization available
Laura Chen
Reviewed byLaura ChenLegal Document Expert

What legal document do you need translated?

Step 1 of 4

What type of legal document do you need translated?

Legal documents we translate

📝 Contracts & agreements Commercial contracts, lease agreements, employment contracts, NDA agreements, service agreements — translated with full legal precision
⚖️ Court orders & judgments Divorce decrees, custody orders, inheritance judgments, civil and criminal court rulings — for use in cross-border legal proceedings
📋 Powers of attorney General, specific, and notarial powers of attorney — translated for use with foreign registries, banks, and government authorities
🎂 Civil certificates Birth, marriage, death, and divorce certificates — for immigration, inheritance, residency, and civil registry submissions
🏢 Corporate documents Articles of incorporation, shareholder agreements, company statutes, and regulatory filings — for international business and due diligence
🎓 Academic & professional credentials Diplomas, transcripts, professional certifications — for foreign equivalency, licensing boards, and university admissions

Who needs this service?

⚖️ Legal and court proceedings

Court orders, judgments, custody arrangements, and legal filings used across borders require certified translation. We work with law firms, courts, and individuals on litigation, probate, and cross-border legal matters.

🏢 Corporate and business clients

Contracts, shareholder agreements, articles of incorporation, regulatory filings, and due diligence documents all require certified translation for international business. We work with corporations and law firms on time-sensitive commercial translation.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family law and vital records

Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, and adoption orders used for immigration, inheritance, or legal recognition require certified translation. We handle these with precision — every name and date must match exactly.

Required documents

DocumentIssuing authorityEstimated timeNotes
Original legal document (scan or physical) Applicant / issuing authority At order placement A clear scan is sufficient for most legal translation purposes. Physical originals needed only when notarization of the original is also required.
Apostille or legalization (if required) Competent authority Before or with translation Some legal documents used abroad need apostille authentication before or alongside the certified translation.
Certified / sworn translation Qualified legal translator 2–5 business days depending on complexity Legal documents often require specialist legal translators. Spain-bound documents require sworn (jurado) translators.
Notarization (if required) Notary public +1 business day Courts, registries, and some corporate transactions require the translation to also be notarized.

How the process works

1

Send your document by scan or email. We identify the document type, subject matter, target authority, and whether notarization or apostille is also needed. We provide a fixed quote and timeline before starting.

2

Legal documents require translators with legal expertise — not general translators. Contracts go to commercial lawyers-turned-translators; court documents to judicial translation specialists; notarial documents to notarial translation experts.

3

The translation is completed, reviewed by a second qualified legal translator, then certified. For Spain-bound documents, the sworn translator's official stamp and signature are applied.

4

Digital delivery by email (PDF, certified). Physical copies with wet ink signatures for notarized translations can be shipped by tracked international courier when required by courts or registries.

Real client cases

DM
Democratic Memory Law – Name Typo

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

An applicant for Spanish citizenship under the Democratic Memory Law had their mother's 40-year-old US Naturalization Certificate rejected because of a minor spelling error in her first name.

We solved it…

The applicant had to petition USCIS for a formal name correction, which carried a 6-month processing delay, requiring them to request an extension from the Spanish consulate.

Result

Name corrected. Spanish citizenship application resumed.

DM
Deferred Master's – Expired FBI Check

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

A student deferred their Spanish master's program for a year and tried to reuse their previously apostilled FBI background check for the new visa application.

We solved it…

The consulate rejected it because the underlying criminal record check is only valid for 5 to 6 months from its original date of issuance.

Result

New FBI check obtained. Student visa approved for following year.

FF
FBI Fingerprint Card – Translation Required

from USA to Spain

Apostille
The problem was…

An applicant submitted an apostilled and translated FBI background check to the Spanish consulate, but it was rejected for missing a translation of the physical fingerprint card itself.

We solved it…

The applicant had to hire a sworn translator to translate the English text on the standard FBI FD-258 fingerprint card to get the visa approved.

Result

Visa approved after adding translation of fingerprint card.

View all cases →

Official sources & authorities

Information on this page is based on procedures from recognized government and intergovernmental bodies — not third-party estimates.

USCIS — Certified Translation Requirements USCIS requires certified translations of all foreign-language legal documents submitted with immigration applications. View source →
ATA — American Translators Association Professional standards for legal translation in the United States. View source →
Spain Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Sworn Translators Official registry for sworn translators recognized by Spain for legal document translation. View source →

Related guides

Guide
When do you need a notarized translation?Laura Chen · 2026
→

Related services

📜Certified translation (general)General certified translations for official documents🇪🇸Sworn translation for SpainMinistry-accredited sworn translations for Spain legal proceedings✈️Translation for visa applicationsAll translations for visa applications🔏Apostille servicesHague Convention apostille for all document types

Legal document translation by country

Spain United States Mexico Argentina Colombia Germany France Italy
Laura Chen

Reviewed by

Laura Chen

Legal Document Expert

Specialist in documents for the English-speaking market with a focus on fast and secure processing.

View full profile →

Frequently asked questions

What legal documents do you translate?

We translate contracts, powers of attorney, court orders and judgments, divorce decrees, birth and marriage certificates, articles of incorporation, shareholder agreements, apostilles, notarial acts, academic transcripts and diplomas, medical records, and government-issued identification documents.

Do legal translations require a specialist legal translator?

Yes — for important legal documents, we always use translators with legal expertise in the relevant subject matter. A contract translated by a medical translator, or a court order translated by a literary translator, risks mistranslation of technical terms with serious legal consequences. We match document type to translator specialty.

Do I need notarization for my legal translation?

For immigration purposes (USCIS, Spain, Schengen), certified translation without notarization is generally sufficient. For court filings, probate, corporate registries, and some government submissions, notarization is also required. We assess your specific case and advise accordingly.

How long does legal document translation take?

Simple legal documents (1–3 pages: birth certificate, power of attorney, short contract) take 1–2 business days. Complex documents (lengthy contracts, court judgments, corporate dossiers) take 3–5 business days. Rush delivery is available.

Can you translate documents that are already apostilled?

Yes — and in fact this is the recommended order. Apostille first, then certified translation so the translation covers the full apostilled document. We translate apostilled documents regularly and ensure the apostille text itself is included in the translation.

What language pairs do you cover for legal translation?

Our primary specialization is Spanish ↔ English for legal documents. We also cover Portuguese, French, Italian, German, and Mandarin for legal translation. Contact us for other language pairs — we have a network of verified specialist legal translators.

Laura Chen
Laura Chen Legal Document Expert
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