Will Translation Services

Our certified will and testament translation services

If you require a translation of a last will and testament for official purposes, you must engage the services of a certified translation agency. As a will is an important legal document, it is essential to have it translated by a professional translator to ensure that the translation is a true and accurate representation of the original. 

Our certified will translation services carried out by qualified translators guarantee that your documents will be recognised as legal translations. Depending on the country in which you have to present the will, the translation may need to be legalised or sworn. In some countries, an apostille may be added to a translated document which legalises it in countries that are signatories of the Hague Convention. 

Civil law countries such as Spain, Italy, or Germany will require a sworn translation for any legal documents written in a language other than their own. This includes wills, documents containing an individual’s wishes for funeral or burial arrangements and power of attorney. 

Espresso Translations can translate your documents according to the requirements of any country or jurisdiction and to any level of certification required. Please contact us for a free quote for your translation needs.

Will and testament certified translation accepted by the Home Office and Embassies

In the UK, a certified translation is accepted by the Home Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and many embassies. For certified translations of last wills and testaments, you must use an official translator who will provide a statement of truth verifying the accuracy of the translated document.

Translations of legal documents to be presented to some foreign governments or public sector bodies may require a sworn translation. This is also a form of certified translation accompanied by a sworn statement instead of a certificate of accuracy. The official translator must swear an oath in front of a notary public or other government official that the translation is a true and accurate representation of the original document. 

Espresso Translations is a provider of certified and sworn translations that are accepted by authorities in the United Kingdom and abroad. Whether you need official documents translated or a technical translation, our team can get the document translated accurately, quickly and with the correct type of certification for your needs.

How can I get a certified translation of my testament?

To get a certified translation of a will, you need to find a professional translation company who can provide translation and certification of your documents. It is not possible to complete the translation process yourself, even if you are fluent in both the source and target languages. 

An official translation business employs legal translators who translate thousands of documents every year. Only they can provide translations that will be certified and officially recognised by UK government departments such as the UK registry office. 

Espresso Translations offers certified translations of wills, death certificates and any necessary probate paperwork. We can also provide translations of any document that sets out the individual’s wishes relating to funeral arrangements or other personal requests.

When am I required to present a will in a foreign language?

If a person makes a will in one country but some of their estate and assets are elsewhere, it may be necessary to translate their will. For example, a UK resident moves to Spain but still has property in the UK and holds a UK will. In the event of their death, the will may need to be translated from English to Spanish. 

These kinds of cross-border inheritance issues are stressful and complex, which is why you need a certified translator or translation company to deal with these documents for you. Depending on which country you need to present the translation of documents to, you may require a certified or sworn translator.

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Example of certified will translation

Here is an example of a translation certification for a will:

How much does it cost to translate a will?

Certified translation costs start at £30 plus VAT, while sworn translations cost from £50 plus VAT. The cost to translate a will depends on whether you need to present a certified translation or a sworn translation.

Factors that influence the cost of the translated document include the length, formatting and complexity of the document, the language pair and any expedited services or postal delivery. A sworn translation may also incur administrative fees for the oath swearing. 

A certified translation of the original document will be accepted by most UK authorities and organisations. If you are in a civil law country, such as France or Italy, then a sworn translation is considered the legal equivalent of the source document and is officially recognised. 

Get a free quote from Espresso Translations today and receive a detailed breakdown of your costs within 1 hour.

How long does it take to translate a will?

The time it takes a translator to translate will and testament documentation depends on various factors. These include

• the length of the text,
• how complex the language is,
• the formatting of the file and the source and target languages.

It is no different when translating wills.  Some wills are longer than others and some use more simple language while others can be very technical. Both of these elements add to the time it takes for document translation. Editable files are quicker to work with, while handwritten documents take longer to process. If one or both of the language pairs are an uncommon language then it may take longer to find an available translator. 

The translator may have to translate the apostille on a legalised document which can add to the length of the process. Sworn translators may also have to make an appointment with a public official to swear the oath and an appropriate person may not always be available. 

Espresso Translations offers a standard and express service for all translated documents. Contact us for more information on all our turnaround options.