Translating legal documents seems simple at first glance. But it isn’t. Using machine translators or people without legal experience can lead to serious errors. Furthermore, in legal matters, a mistake isn’t just a misspelled word. It can mean financial losses, legal issues, or significant delays.
What is considered a legal translation?
A legal translation includes any document related to laws, contracts, rights, or regulations. For example:
- Employment or commercial contracts
- Terms and conditions
- Wills
- Deeds
- Court rulings
- Powers of attorney
- Immigration documents
When translating legal documents you want to be sure that these texts must be accurate, because even a small confusion can completely change their legal meaning.
What happens if you don’t use a professional legal translator?
An inaccurate translation can lead to lawsuits, fines, or delays in business deals. In court, a poorly translated document may be rejected—or worse, used against you.
Misinterpretation
Legal words don’t always have a direct translation. Thus, a single term can have different meanings depending on the country. A non-professional translator might choose the wrong word and change the legal intent of the document.
Legal consequences
A poorly translated contract might not be legally valid. Or worse—it could lead to a dispute or lawsuit. For example, if a liability clause is misunderstood, your company might be left without legal protection.
Wasted time and money
Fixing legal translation errors costs more than doing it right from the start. Also, if you submit poorly translated documents to a judge or official body, they may be rejected—delaying the entire process.
Lack of confidentiality
Professional agencies handle your documents under confidentiality agreements and secure systems. On the contrary, if you share legal files with people who lack experience, your sensitive data could be exposed.
What does a professional must do when translating legal documents?
- Firstly, they understand legal language in both languages
- Second, they knows the differences between legal systems
- Third, they use accurate and up-to-date terminology
- Additionally they keep the legal structure of the document intact
- Finally, they ensure the document is legally valid in the target country
In many cases, translating legal documents must also be certified or sworn, which only an authorised professional can provide.
Conclusion
In brief, translating legal documents without an expert is a risk your company shouldn’t take. It’s not just about translating words—but it’s about protecting your rights, your reputation, and your finances. The best decision is always to trust a professional translation agency with legal experience.
