If you are planning to do business abroad, enroll in studies at a foreign university, marry a foreign citizen or simply submit documents to a foreign bank, you will need the services of a licensedcourt interpreter. Learn all about the legal aspects of certified translations.
Who is a court interpreter?
Court interpreter(that is, a permanent court translator) is a professional authorized by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Serbia to officially confirm with his seal and signature that the translation of a document is completely faithful to the original in the original language.
In order to become a court interpreter, one must have a higher education in the field of languages (most often graduated from the Faculty of Philology), many years of experience in translation and proven knowledge of legal terminology. In addition, the court interpreter takes a solemn oath before the court and is registered in the official Register of Court Translators and Interpreters maintained by the Ministry of Justice.
The difference between an ordinary and a certified translation
While an ordinary written translation can be done by any translator (and delivered to you in Word or PDF format without any stamps), a certified translation has the status of a public document.
| Characteristic | Ordinary written translation | Translation certified by a court interpreter |
|---|---|---|
| Legal force | It does not have the legal force of an official document | An official document recognized by the institutions |
| Physical form | Sent by e-mail (Word, PDF) | Printed, bound by guarantor with original/copy |
| Seal and signature | It does not have the stamp of a state authority | It has the stamp and signature of a licensed court interpreter |
| Purpose | Websites, brochures, books, internal use | Courts, embassies, municipalities, faculties, APR |
What does a certified translation look like?
When the court interpreter finishes his work, the translation is physically joined (most often tied with a red-blue-white thread calledguarantor) with the original document or its photocopy. At the point of connection, a paper sticker is stuck, over which the interpreter puts his round seal.
At the very end of the translated text, the court interpreter writesstatement on the identity of the translation with the original(in the target language), states the number under which the translation is registered in his Translation Diary, the date and place of certification, and signs. Without this statement, seal and guarantor, the translation is not considered an official certified document.
What is an Apostille stamp?
Apostilleis a special seal that confirms the authenticity of the signature and seal on a public document issued in one country, so that it can be used in another country that is a signatory to the Hague Convention on the Abolition of the Need for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents from 1961.
Key notes about the Apostille stamp:
- Apostille stamp issued in Serbiabasic courts.
- The apostille stamp is placed exclusively onoriginal domestic documentbefore it is taken zaprevod.
- After the court puts the Apostille on the original, the court interpreter translates the document itself and the content of that Apostille stamp, and then binds them together.
- There are countries with which Serbia has bilateral agreements, which means that an Apostille is not required for them (eg Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, France and others). Be sure to check the requirements of the country you are sending documents to.
The most common documents that require certification by a court interpreter
For legal and natural persons, the list of documents that must be certified is long. The most common examples include:
For legal entities (Companies):
- Extracts from the Agency for Business Registers (APR) and company statutes.
- Agreements on cooperation, sales, exclusive representation.
- Financial statements, profit and loss statements, audit reports.
- Tender documentation and powers of attorney for the representation of foreign companies.
- Invoices and international transport documents.
For natural persons:
- Birth, marriage and death certificates.
- Diplomas, certificates of completed classes, transcripts of grades.
- Certificates of unmarried status (for marriage abroad).
- Certificates of impunity and non-conviction (MUP).
- Medical findings and medical documentation for treatment abroad.
Frequently asked questions about court interpreters
Yes, the court interpreter is obliged by law to inspect the original document in order to confirm the accuracy of the translation, even if the translation is bound with a photocopy. You can bring the original in person or send it by secure courier service.
Electronically signed certified translation (with a qualified electronic certificate of the court interpreter) is becoming more and more common and is legally recognized in many institutions. However, we recommend that you check with the recipient of the document whether they accept an electronic version or only a bound paper original.
The certified translation itself has no validity period. However, the original document to which the translation is attached may have an expiration date (for example, a certificate of unmarried status or an extract from the APR usually cannot be older than 3 to 6 months for most institutions).