Can a Solicitor Certify a Translation? 

People often ask: can a solicitor certify a translation? Well, yes… but not always in the way you might think. It’s a bit confusing, honestly. Some documents need one kind of stamp, some another. If you’ve never used legal translation services before, it’s easy to get lost in the rules.

Why even bother getting a translation certified?

Think about it—if you’ve got a birth cert, marriage paper, or maybe a contract in another language, the authority here can’t just “trust” your version. They want a translation they can rely on. And not just any, but one that’s certified. Without that, offices sometimes send it right back. That’s when people look up certified legal translation services, because normal translations don’t always cut it.

Can any solicitor just stamp it and job done?

Well, kind of, but not exactly. A solicitor can say “yes, this translator came to me and signed that they did this work.” But most solicitors aren’t checking the actual text unless they happen to speak the language. So what they’re certifying is basically the translator’s identity, not whether the words are spot-on.

That’s not the same as proper legal document translation, which is about accuracy and meaning. So yeah, a solicitor can certify, but it doesn’t always mean the translation will be accepted.

Who usually does certified translations then?

Most of the time, it’s professional translators or agencies. They already know the format, the right declaration text, and the official wording. In fact, many authorities prefer it this way, since it keeps the responsibility with the translator.

If you only get a solicitor’s stamp, you may still hear back later: “we actually need a certified version.” So you end up doing it twice. Frustrating, but it happens.

Does it change depending on the country?

Yes, absolutely. In the UK, a translator can self-certify with a statement. In other countries (Spain, Italy for example), only court-approved translators can do it. That’s why some folks assume you always need a solicitor, when really, it depends on the rules of the place asking for it.

Best advice—check first. Saves money and a lot of stress.

What’s smart to ask before you choose a translator?

Couple of things you might wanna ask:

• Who exactly is asking for the translation?

• Do they need a solicitor stamp or just the translator’s?

• Should it be notarised, sworn, or just certified?

Asking these up front clears most of the confusion.

Is a solicitor’s certification always enough?

Not really. If the translation itself is poor, no solicitor stamp will fix it. That’s why many go with legal translation services directly—they give both the translation and the certificate, so you don’t need to juggle between people.

So, what’s the bottom line here?

Basically: yes, a solicitor can certify a translation, but that doesn’t mean it will work everywhere. Most times, a proper legal document translation with certification from the translator is safer. The solicitor’s role is limited—mainly when a notary-type stamp is asked for.

Final thoughts

It’s a bit of a headache sometimes, figuring out who needs what. But the key point is: accuracy comes first, then the right type of certification. Solicitors can help, sure, but it’s not always the final answer. Agencies like Peak Translations Ltd deal with this daily and understand which bodies want which type of stamp. In the end, using certified legal translation services usually avoids delays and saves you from redoing the whole thing.

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