Legal Translation

Contracts and Negotiation Documents

We consider contracts, supplementary agreements, records of disputed terms, offers, statements and business correspondence on legal matters. If several drafts exist, identify the final version or clearly state which changes are still under discussion. Translating different versions without that agreement can produce an inconsistent set of documents.

We pay particular attention to definitions, amounts, currency, dates, liability provisions and dispute-resolution clauses. Schedules may be necessary to understand the main text correctly. For a bilingual contract, we agree the layout of the languages and numbering; the legal effect of each version is determined by the contract and applicable rules.

Court Documents and Evidence

Documents may include judgments, procedural applications, court orders, representatives’ powers of attorney, formal demands and evidence supporting claims. Party names, case numbers, dates, references to evidence and existing certification wording must be retained. We separately clarify whether a full translation or an agreed part of the file is required.

If the work involves a lawyer’s representation in court, the documents to be translated should be agreed with the representative. A translator does not independently decide which evidence to submit, amend a party’s legal position or replace the drafting of a procedural document for another jurisdiction.

Corporate Records and Rights to Assets

For companies, we consider articles of association, members’ resolutions, minutes, register extracts, documents confirming directors’ authority, licence agreements and property records. Provide registered names and agreed abbreviations. Existing translations of related documents can help maintain consistent naming without automatically carrying over possible errors.

Intellectual property agreements require attention to the subject matter, permitted uses and party designations. Financial terms require accurate figures and references to the relevant provisions. Specialist subject matter and terminology are agreed after reviewing the documents, not merely from a file name.

Translation and Legal Adaptation Are Different Tasks

Accurately translating a source document does not mean its provisions are suitable for use in another country. Reviewing a contract or adapting it to local requirements is a separate legal assignment. For a broader engagement, you can consider business legal support with clearly defined responsibilities.

A translation does not authenticate a document, confirm the signatory’s authority or verify its factual statements. Ambiguity in the source must be identified and clarified, not quietly rewritten. Agreed comments or explanations are kept separate from the translation itself.

Certification for Official Use

Legal subject matter does not determine the certification required. An authority may require a sworn translation, notarisation or another accepted option. Obtain the requirements before work begins, including those concerning the original, a copy, an electronic version and whether the translation must be complete.

Preparing Your Documents

Send the final version with all attachments. If it is not yet final, mark it as a working draft and agree how amendments will be supplied. State the source and target languages, country of use, recipient, preferred date and required file format. Every page of a paper document must be legible.

Include agreed company names, the spelling of personal names, abbreviations and any terminology resources. Explain which earlier documents relate to the new text. Reference details must be checked against the supplied sources: a translator should not guess a name or correct an account number without agreement.

If the documents contain commercially sensitive information, agree an appropriate channel and the necessary working conditions before sharing them. Do not send unrelated documents. For a quote, you can first clarify what material is needed and how the full text will subsequently be provided.

Agreeing the Version and Checking the Result

After assessment, we agree the scope, availability, timescale and price. Layout, tables, certification and additional copies are discussed separately. Replacing the source document once work has started requires a comparison of versions and may affect the agreed deadline.

The completed text is delivered in the agreed form. Check names, personal details and that all attachments are included. Queries are considered by reference to the relevant passage in the original. Arrangements through partner agencies in Ukraine or Poland are agreed for the particular order; no assumption is made that every partner covers all language pairs and certification types.