In the field of legal translation into
French,sworn translation requests frequently
return. But do you really need it?
This article concerns translations of legal documents
into French. For the legalization of French public documents intended for
a foreign authority, you can consult the section on this subject on the official website France Diplomatie.
Do you need a legal translation or a sworn translation?
A sworn translation is carried out by a translator
recognized as a ministerial officer and registered with a French Court of
Appeal. It will certify that its translation is in accordance with the
original document. This is a certified translation that is consistent with the original orofficial.
It concerns
official documents such as pleadings, notarized deeds, bailiff acts,
administrative documents, patents and certificates. It is therefore a
matter of administrative procedures.
How to choose
between a legal translation into classical French and a sworn
translation? Sometimes you think you need a sworn translation when it is
not. This leads to additional delays and costs as fewer sworn translators
are available and formalism is more important. Not least because the sworn
translator takes responsibility.
To translate a
contract into a commercial framework, for example, a conventional legal
translation is enough. Of course, it is important to ensure that the translator
has the necessary skills and experience. In general, certified translation
is directly requested by an administrative authority.
Should I use a translation agency or directly to the translator?
Companies are used to delegating their translation work to
a translation company,to which they entrust the task of recruiting the right translator and
managing the project. For a regular legal translation into French
(sometimes called free translation,as opposed to
sworn translation), this remains the preferred option.
However, for a
sworn translation, it is often better to call the competent translator
directly. In fact, the certified translator must physically apply his
stamp on the translation and send it to the client in paper format. The
translator may also have to do his work from the original document. Going
through an agency could lengthen the delays, but may remain useful if the delay
is not a problem and the client wants to offload the project management.
Pricing is not
always done at the word as for translation agencies. The translator may
invoice the page, and also charge a fee for stamping and sending the original
translations by post. Finally, each expert translator sets his own rate.
The list of approved
translators is publicly available on the website of the Court of Cassation.You will find
translators registered with all appella courses. You can choose any
professional for your sworn translation. Simply, as the Court indicates,
choosing a professional from your jurisdiction will be useful if you wish to
meet with him in person
