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Notarial Translation of Articles of Association (AoA) in Israel and Abroad

Michael Decker
Michael Decker

Do you need to submit non-Hebrew AoA, or incorporation documents, to an administrative authority or, specifically, to the Registrar of Companies? Documents of this type must be submitted in Hebrew, so it will therefore be necessary to attach a notarial translation of articles of association or similar documents (except when these are original English-language documents, which we expand upon below). Conversely, if the documents are needed as part of a cooperation with companies abroad, for the purpose of registering subsidiary companies or branches of Israeli companies, it is definitely necessary to translate incorporation documents into English or into the language of the foreign country.

It is very important to remember that the cost of notarizing a translation is derived from the prices of notary services set out in the Notaries Law, 1976, and usually includes the price of the translation work itself, in addition to the tariffs mentioned in the law. Since AoA and the accompanying constitutional documents are usually long and extensive, translating them may be no small expense for many companies, and it is therefore important to find a notary public who will provide the highest-quality professional translation service and offer an attractive tariff that is acceptable by law.

Our law firm is happy to offer exactly that and provide quality notarial translation services at fair prices for a wide range of languages. We are also happy to help with translations into English that require knowledge and understanding of translating legal documents.

translation of articles of association

What are Articles of Association and Why Can’t They Be Submitted in the Source Language?

A company’s AoA is a document that defines the company’s basic constitution and is required by law. The AoA constitutes a contract between the company and its shareholders, and between the shareholders themselves. The company’s articles must be defined and created by its establishers (the first shareholders), and must be submitted in full, together with additional documents, to the Registrar of Companies.

The AoA must include at least four main sections: the name of the company, its business objectives, the responsibilities of the shareholders, and the company’s share capital. However, due to the fact that the AoA is a document that regulates the way the company actually runs its internal affairs, the AoA usually also contains important information such as sections that regulate the work of the board of directors, how dividends will be divided, and how voting during meetings will be conducted.

For small companies that do not plan to extend their business activity outside the borders of Israel, an AoA in the Hebrew language will suffice. However, if a company wishes to extend its activity overseas, especially if the company was created for the purpose of providing services to a certain state abroad whose official language is not Hebrew, there is definitely room to consider writing the AoA in a foreign language or translating it into the foreign language. For example, an Israeli high-tech company that works with businesses in Finland and wishes to create connections and attract investors there will usually prefer to write its initial AoA in Finnish, since the AoA is an important document that will interest investors, as well as anyone who wishes to work with the company.

In many cases, companies choose to write the AoA specifically in English so that they may serve a wide range of audiences. Let’s try to understand what the law says about these cases.

Why Should You Write Your AoA in English, and How Do You Do It?

As stated above, many companies are interested in serving international audiences and attracting investors and shareholders from abroad, and even in cases where this is not the main goal for which the company was established, there are definitely companies that are interested in keeping this option open. Therefore, writing the company’s initial AoA in English may definitely make things easier, and may also save future translation costs.

If you decide to do this, be aware that you will be required to submit the AoA along with a translation of it into Hebrew (which does not have to be a notarial translation), as well as a certificate in which the company confirms the correctness of the translation. The translation must include a statement in clear writing saying that “This document is only intended as an aid in understanding the English document.” An AoA that is not submitted according to the rules will be rejected.

If you need help in translating your AoA from English to Hebrew or vice versa, or in submitting the documents to the Registrar of Companies, you are definitely welcome to contact us.

Translating an AoA from a Language Other Than English

In cases where you would like to submit an AoA that is not written in Hebrew or in English, you will need professional notarial translation services. Be aware that, without a notarial translation, your request to register the company will be refused. You must also make sure to adhere to the rules required by the Registrar of Companies, which are generally more detailed and complex when the AoA is in a non-English foreign language.

To avoid delays and postponement of your important business activity, we highly recommend that you choose a law firm and notary who have deep knowledge of the requirements set out by the Registrar of Companies, and who work regularly with professional translators highly experienced in translating various types of AoA and constitutional documents.

Do Not Compromise On Quality Translation Services

Whether you need a notarial translation or just a regular translation with a certificate of confirmation by the company, when translating from English, we always urge our clients, as well as anyone else who consults us, not to take the matter lightly, since the Registrar of Companies is very strict about the various rules, and if you do not make sure to submit the various documents according to the rules, you will probably suffer many delays and be forced to submit all the documents over again.

Our law firm has many years of experience with these processes, be it specific notarial translation of incorporation documents or general processes of company registration. We will be happy to be at your service at any stage, and we offer fair and convenient rates for a variety of services. Do not hesitate to contact us soon for further advice.

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