Translation of Documents into English by a Notary Public
When is a translation of a document required? What documents need to be translated? What documents translations have to be authenticated by a notary? When can documents be translated into English and when only into the official language of the country where they are submitted? If you are looking for an answer to one or more of these questions—this article is for you. Our law firm specializes in professional notary public translation into English and a wide variety of other languages, and we will be happy to answer any question you have on the matter.
What Documents Must Be Translated by a Notary Public?
A long list of documents fall into this category, but a rule of thumb is that any document issued in another language and required for official use in a country other than the country of origin in which it was issued, requires a notary public translation. This list includes any legal document, such as a contract, will, or probate order. Also, non-legal official documents such as an identity card, citizenship certificate, certificates from various state authorities, and more require translation by a notary public.
When is Translation by a Notary Public into English Required?
When submitting a document to authorities and institutions in certain countries abroad, it is necessary to translate documents into English by a notary public. It is important to note that a translation by a non-notary translator will, in most (if not all) cases, not be accepted by the authorities of the country in which you are trying to submit it. In other words, a translation into English that is not certified by a notary public may waste your valuable resources for nothing. For more on this topic, read our article on legal translation into English.
Which Countries Accept Translation of Documents into English by a Notary Public?
The first countries that come to mind as countries that require documents that have been translated into English are countries where the official language is English, such as the United States and the UK. However, many countries where the official language spoken is not English are also willing to accept documents translated into English. These countries include Vietnam, Taiwan, and a number of European countries. This option is, of course, preferable to translation into the official language of the foreign country, since translation into English is relatively quicker, cheaper, and more easily reviewed by the client than translation into other foreign languages. However, it should be borne in mind that the documents received back from these countries will usually be written in the language of the foreign country and not in English.
Does Israel Accept Notary Public Translation into English of Documents Issued Outside Israel?
The primary official language in Israel is Hebrew. It is common to view English as a secondary language in Israel, since it is taught in schools, most citizens of the country speak English, street signs and traffic throughout the country are also written in English, and English is used as a mediating language for communicating with immigrants from all over the world.
Therefore, it is surprising to find that, according to the official laws and regulations in Israel, Israeli institutions accept documents translated into Hebrew only, and we are not one of the countries that accept notary public translation of documents into English. Translation of a document from an “exotic” foreign language (for example, Lithuanian, Hindi, or Korean, from the firm’s experience in the field) into English in the country of origin may or may not be accepted by authorities in Israel and, if it is not accepted, there is a need to translate the English translation into Hebrew.
In summary, translation of documents from Hebrew into English by a notary public is required when submitting a document to authorities in a country where the official language is English or a country where the official language is not English but it accepts documents that have been translated by a notary public into English. On the flip side, translating documents into Hebrew by a notary public is required whenever the country of origin of the document is not Israel but the document is intended for use in Israel; that is, even when the document was issued in English (in which case it will need to be translated from English into Hebrew by a notary public), and even when the document was issued in another language (in which case it will need to be translated from the foreign language into Hebrew by a notary public, and a notary public translation into English will usually not suffice).
Who is a Notary Public?
A notary public is a lawyer, a member of the Israel Bar Association, who has at least 10 years of experience in practicing law, received approval from the Notary Licensing Committee after meeting its various requirements, and was then selected by the Israeli Ministry of Justice to serve as a notary public. As you can see, not every lawyer can be a notary public. This is a very important role, since the courts and various authorities entrust the notaries with the authority to determine whether documents are exact copies of the original and authenticate them, authenticate signatures, and translate documents accurately so that there is no mismatch (intentional or unintentional) between the source and the translation.
What is the Cost of Translation by a Notary Public?
The notary’s fee is determined by law in the notary regulations and in the notary notice (service fee) published annually on the website of the Israeli Ministry of Justice. There are a number of criteria set out in the law for determining the price to be paid for the notary public translation, such as the number of words in each document. In addition, a distinction must be made between translation and other notary services that may be required such as translation by certification of a translator’s statement, signatures and seals, and more.
Contact Us – Notary Public Translation into English, Hebrew, and Other Languages
In our law firm, located in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, you will find a notary public specializing in translation into English from various languages and vice versa, including Russian, French, Arabic, Portuguese, German and, of course, Hebrew. Our firm has years of experience in the field of immigration to Israel and from Israel to many countries. Our office provides a professional and complete service regarding notary public translation of documents, as well as assistance in obtaining an apostille stamp required in certain situations in addition to the translation of the document, and in the other procedural parts of the process. We will be happy to be at your service at any time.
:
:מאמרים מומלצים