Translation has proven to be a helpful tool not only in personal communication but also in business and legal communications. The internet and all the telecommunication advancements shortened distances across the world, but it was translation that helped bridge the gap between people of different countries. Without translation, companies would never have been able to become multinational. The concept of an international market and businesses who ship worldwide would have still been alien without translation. In business, translation is not the mere act of changing words but also the whole policy of a company according to different cultures. Ad campaigns use slogans that follow the cultural norms of a people to attract the native population. These techniques in translation have helped businesses reach out to communities that would have been impossible to reach otherwise.
Translation of Legal Documents:
Another field in which translation has been extremely helpful is that of the legal system. Legal documents are very complex and are often hard to understand for those who have zero understanding of the legal language. The difficult language used in the legal documents makes them difficult to read even for language experts. Now imagine translating that document. Many people don’t understand the terms used in legal documents even though they are in their native language. That can help you imagine how hard translating legal documents can be.
But the translation of legal documents is necessary for some situations. Legal documents are of many kinds. From patents to medical records and contracts to will, all of our personal and professional life revolves around legal documents. Businesses cannot import or export goods without translation of legal documents. The translation of terms & conditions is also very important and needed for the smooth running of a business across countries.
Here are the most important uses of legal documents’ translation:
- Patents:
If you don’t want anyone to steal your invention, you have to patent it. Patents grant a company or individual intellectual property rights. The accurate translation of patent documents is very important. Small differences in these documents can make people or companies lose their case. You can’t simply make a claim and not worry about the translations of your patent documents.
- Immigration Documents:
Birth certificate and marriage certificate are the legal documents whose translation will be needed when you are applying for immigration. Their incorrect translations can lead to the rejection of your visa application.
- Contracts:
Contracts are very important in businesses. Their wording determines the relationship between two or more parties. When the involved parties all belong to different countries, the translation of the contract becomes necessary. Any mistake in the translation can make it hard to follow the rules of agreement.
- Court Documents:
Summons also need to be translated accurately. Otherwise, the involved parties will not be able to understand the case properly and come to the court unprepared. Law of every country gives the defendant the right to prepare for the case, and only accurate translation can help the defendant in preparing for the case if their native language is not the same as the official language of the court.
Things to Know Before Translating Legal Documents:
Important things in life require thorough research beforehand. All the big buildings you see in the world today are not only there because workers labored day and night to build them but also because construction managers and architects analyzed the land and did their research about it before starting construction. If construction gets started without first studying the land, the building could be at risk of suffering great damages later. Such risks cannot be taken as people’s lives are in question in these situations. There are situations in life where people’s lives aren’t at risk, but they require thorough research nonetheless.
So when you have to get your legal documents translated, you must consider a few things first. Don’t make the wrong choice in your haste. Learn all about legal document translation, so you make no wrong turn along the way and end up with the best translations. Here are things you must know before translating legal documents:
- You Can’t Translate Them Yourself:
No matter how good you are at your native language and how good your grasp is on a foreign language, you can’t translate legal documents yourself. Legal translators not only have to have deep knowledge of two different languages but also a good grip on the legal terminologies of both languages. Only the qualified translators can correctly translate a legal document without messing it up.
- You Can’t Cut Corners:
If your time or budget is limited and you think you can ask someone to make a summary translation of your legal document, here is a simple tip: don’t. When it comes to legal documents and their translation, you can’t cut corners. There are no easy ways out when you are translating legal documents. Each word and sentence has to be translated according to the legal system of the country whose official language is being used for the translation.
- You Need to Find the Right Translation Agency:
Legal documents’ translation is often needed urgently which is why you may be tempted to pick the first translation agency you come across. Or maybe you saw a flashy ad on a shady website and thought that a particular translation agency is the right choice for you. But you need to understand that legal documents’ translation is a very complex task and can only be handled by professionals. And if you need the translation urgently, then you must get in touch with a well-known translation agency that can provide you the translation before the deadline without charging you a ton. Ask around and look for the translation agency with the best customer reviews if you want to get an accurate translation of legal documents.
Translating legal documents is not something that everyone can handle. It requires the expertise of a special kind. But if you get the right kind of help, then you can sit back and relax while the professionals work their magic to create your translations.
