When to Use Certified vs Notarized Translations
If you need to get a document professionally translated, you may be asked to provide proof that you used a qualified service. This proof usually comes in one of two forms: a certified translation or a notarized translation. The differences between the two – and when they are used – are significant.
Use one, not both
Today, it’s usually one or the other that is required – either a certified or a notarized translation, but not both. This was not always the case, as just a few years ago the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) required that all certified translations also be notarized. However, the USCIS has since changed the rules and dropped the notarization requirement, making certified translations the standard U.S. requirement for all immigration purposes.
Why Notarizing a Certified Translated Document?
Understanding certified translations are not easy. When a translation is finished, it is checked multiple times for maximum accuracy. This process is tedious compared to standard translation processes. After the documents are checked, the translation is given to a notary public. The translation is presented with the original document and a statement from the translator saying that the translation is accurate and complete. A notary public affixes their seal to the translation after this occurs. Though this part of the process does not guarantee the accuracy of the translation, it verifies the translation as having higher validation.
A certified translation means that the LSP or translator has provided a signed statement that the translation is a true and accurate translation of the original. Certified translations are usually required for legal documents such as business contracts, court transcripts, immigration documents, adoption agreements, and birth, death, or marriage certificates.
A notarized translation is less about quality control and more about following official procedures. A notary public is a person who is authorized by the government to oversee and authenticate various legal formalities – one of them being notarized translations. Notarized translations are usually required for education-based documents like high school transcripts or foreign diplomas.
Apostilles are rendered by State Departments. State Departments issue apostilles so you can use your translated documents abroad. You must tell your translation provider where the apostilled documents will be used, so they prepare the documents accordingly.
To ensure acceptance by immigration, the government, and employers, certain documents must be certified. This is the so-called certified translation service. One of the requirements of a certified translation is the translator’s affidavit on it. A translator’s affidavit will guarantee that:
The translated documents receive a statement signed by the translator or translation company representative.
This statement includes the translator’s signature notarized by a Notary Public
Understanding certified translations are not easy. When a translation is finished, it is checked multiple times for maximum accuracy. This process is tedious compared to standard translation processes. After the documents are checked, the translation is given to a notary public. The translation is presented with the original document and a statement from the translator saying that the translation is accurate and complete. A notary public affixes their seal to the translation after this occurs. Though this part of the process does not guarantee the accuracy of the translation, it verifies the translation as having higher validation.
Intellectual property rights are similar to other property rights. They allow their creator or owner to benefit from their interest and authorship.
Just as an investor or entrepreneur has legal protections that allow him to profit from his efforts, IP rights help ensure that artists, scientists, and investors are fairly compensated for the often hefty investment of time and resources needed to create new ideas and processes that help save lives, generate new jobs, and improve quality of life.
According to the USPTO (the United States Patent and Trademark Office), rights granted by a U.S. patent do not affect foreign countries.
And with today’s globalized marketplace, it’s becoming increasingly imperative to protect your intellectual property (IP) rights in foreign countries where your company conducts its business.
Just as an investor or entrepreneur has legal protections that allow him to profit from his efforts, IP rights help ensure that artists, scientists, and investors are fairly compensated for the often hefty investment of time and resources needed to create new ideas and processes that help save lives, generate new jobs, and improve quality of life.
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