Lesson 16 Translation of formal texts Theoretical part

Types of official translation
If you are looking into getting official documents translated, it’s important to understand the different types of official document translation that exist. 
Legal translation
The most basic advice is not to confuse official translation with legal translation. The field of legal translation is broad and can include anything law-related. Legal translators usually specialise in particular areas, such as court proceedings, insurance claims or contracts. 
Although some legal translators are approved to provide official document translations, many are not, so be sure to confirm that your translator has the right qualifications for your project. 
Certified translation
When people use the term official translation, they usually mean certified translation or sworn translation rather than legal translation. These are the two most common types of translations used for official documents. 
Certified translation involves translating your document from the original language to the target language, and the company or translator provides a certificate to verify that the translation is accurate and of professional quality.
Sworn translation
Sworn translation involves translating your document, as with any type of translation, but it must be performed by a translator who takes an oath in a court of law and is legally obligated to provide complete and accurate work. The translated documents are usually accompanied by the translator’s personal seal or stamp to show that an approved, qualified sworn translator performed the work.
It’s important to note that some countries use both certified and sworn translations, while other countries only use certified translations. For example, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia do not use sworn translations.
Government officials are generally strict about which type of translations they’ll accept for official document translations, so be sure to ask which type you need to avoid delays and unnecessary costs.