Certified translations of official documents, certificates, diplomas by sworn translators for Nuremberg, Fürth, Erlangen

In their attestation clause, the translator states the regional court, federal state and languages for which they are sworn and in which language the original text is written. In accordance with Sec. 142(3) of the German Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO), the accuracy and completeness of a certified translation is certified with the translator's signature and stamp and by stating the place and date. However, a stamp is not legally required in every federal state. If the stamp is required in your state, it must contain the name, languages and address of the translator.

Our specialist translation agency offers certified translations of various official documents into all languages.

Sworn translators are also sworn to secrecy. A sworn translator and interpreter must be particularly trustworthy and must meet certain requirements to be sworn in before a court. Proof of both personal and professional qualification must be provided. Translators who wish to be sworn in have to submit a certificate of good conduct and several express declarations and assurances. Persons who have comprehensive language skills and are able to understand finer nuances of meaning in both their own and the foreign language, even in more complex matters, are considered professionally qualified. The translator must therefore have the highest level of language competence (C2) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages of the Council of Europe. In order to provide proof of this very high level of language competence, the translator has to present either a certificate of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce on the interpreter or translator examination, an interpreter or translator diploma from a university or a university of applied sciences or a final certificate of successful attendance of a state-approved language school.

That is one of our clients’ most frequently asked questions. In a nutshell: all texts that are regarded as official documents and may only be issued by competent organizations or institutions have to be certified in their authenticity.

Certified translations of documents are therefore usually required by German academic institutions, courts and authorities, such as registry or registration offices. Lawyers, notaries, banks, insurance companies, businesses and accountants also often require contracts and financial documents to be translated in a court-approved certified form. If a document has to be submitted to an authority, it is a legal translation.

Which documents need to be translated depends largely on the purpose for which they are submitted as well as the institution to which you need to submit them. Some countries have two or even more official languages. Thus, documents are often issued in the respective language as well as in English. Since the only official language in Germany is German, all documents in another language that need to be presented or submitted to a public authority or institution (universities, district authorities and administrations, registry offices, town and city halls, consulates, embassies etc.) must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Commissioning a professional and sworn translator or interpreter is particularly important for such documents, since the translation must be faithful and its legitimacy must be guaranteed. You save time and money with a professional and sworn translator. In theory, a foreign document can be translated by linguists without certification, but the document would then not be recognized in court.

Official documents issued in Germany are usually only recognized abroad if they are authenticated. This is done by an additional authentication clause which confirms the signature and official capacity of the signatory as well as the authenticity of the seal or stamp on the document.

A legalization officially confirms the authenticity of the signature and the seal of a foreign document. The diplomatic or consular representation of the country in which this document is to be used carries out this form of authentication upon the request of a natural person, legal entity or organization. It should be noted that the legalization neither confirms the accuracy of the content nor the legitimacy of the document in any form.

An apostille is a kind of authentication used for the international recognition of public documents. In accordance with the Convention abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents, the apostille replaces the legalization in the states which are party to the Hague Convention.