7 reasons why translating legal documents for external outreach is important
Legal documents are a substantial fact of modern life that can't be replaced. And what stands mutual between the two are the certificates that begin and end with one. Well, in today’s increasingly globalized world, it is even more likely that at some point, you will need a professional legal translator or legal translation service that may help you figure out your legalities in a foreign language, or maybe help you buy or sell that property overseas that you've been eyeing lately.
The law is a complex subject, and every country has its own language and multiple dialects to comprehend. Even if you happen to speak the language, it is nonetheless vital that you use professional translation services for any legal document. The risks involved are too high to do it any other way. Why? Well, here are 7 reasons why translating legal documents for external outreach is important...
The law asks for it.
For starters, you may not even have a choice. Many courts, banks, and other institutions require all official documents from another country to be translated as well as notarized by a certified professional. A professional language services company handles all of that. Just send them the document and be at peace knowing that your translation will be certified, accurate, signed, sealed, and guaranteed to meet with the approval of the authority that requested it in the first place.
No Shocks. No Surprises
Legal documents are supposed to protect your interests, so having them translated professionally from the get-go will ensure that no challenges crop up in the future. Imagine that you bought that beach house in Colombia, and a few years later, when you decide to sell it, it turns out that the Colombian Spanish term for lien is frequently mistranslated as right-of-way. Every pro knows that, but it is news to you and to your supposedly bilingual buddy who “helped out” with the translating.
The Stakes are too high.
Sure, Google Translate can give you the gist of any email. Or if you are traveling and want your meat cooked tenderly at medium-rare, a pocketbook of words will help you make your point. But when you are dealing with sensitive legal documents such as mortgage agreements or financial statements, one wrong word could get you into serious trouble. Finding out that you cannot sell your property until you pay off another guy’s tax debt because of a false cognate may ruin your day in ways an overcooked steak cannot.
Translation apps are not licensed legal practitioners
Legal writing is difficult to decipher, even for native speakers. The difficulty is compounded when dealing with a foreign language. Legal documents are often packed full of arcane language and specialized terms that most people simply aren’t familiar with. It is not enough to have a bilingual buddy give it a try, and you should not even think about any app on your phone. To translate such documents correctly, you will need to call in a professional.
Credibility
A badly translated legal document is like a fake ID that you have your fingers crossed for so you don’t get caught. When you are translating a loan agreement, an employment contract, or any other official document, it is not enough for it to appear legitimate. It needs to be legitimate. A document translated by a friend, co-worker, or even Google Translate may seem “close enough,” but when you do run into trouble, you will wish you had not done it at all.
Personalized service and attention
When you are dealing with government officials, especially in a foreign country, it is easy to feel like the people behind the desks do not care about you. They don’t, but you do not have to go it alone. Having a professional on your side who is willing and available to answer your questions and assuage your doubts will help you through the process.
Even lawyers have lawyers.
As the old saying goes, the attorney who represents himself has a fool for a client. Dealing with officials is no picnic, and the last thing you would want is to have to do it all over again. Professionals inhabit the tedious, arcane world of legal documents day-in and day-out. That is what makes them professionals. They will get it done right the first time so that you can get on with your whole life.
