Frequently Asked Questions

What is a sworn translator?

In Germany, translators are referred to as "sworn" or "licensed" if they have been authorized by a court (usually a local court or another government institution) to prepare and certify translations in one or more language pairs.

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​When I certify a translation, I apply a stamp containing my name, title and authorization and sign it. By doing so, I guarantee that the translation accurately corresponds to the form and content of the original document in the source language. A wide range of documents are translated for submission to government agencies, universities, companies, employers etc. They include birth certificates, marriage certificates, driver's licenses and many others.

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Can I have only part of a document translated to save money?

It’s usually necessary to completely translate a document if it’s going to be certified. However, exceptions can be made if entire pages or sections aren’t relevant.

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My original document contains typos or other mistakes. Can or should they be corrected in the translation?

When preparing a certified translation, the translator is required to correctly and completely convert the source text into the target language. The translation should correspond as closely as possible to the original in terms of organization, style, meaning and content while complying with the target language’s rules on grammar, punctuation, capitalization, abbreviations and many other things. However, this doesn’t mean translating so literally that the meaning is distorted or the resulting text is difficult to read or understand. As a general rule, mistakes – such as misspelled names, false statements and incorrect numbers – also have to be transferred to the target texts. The translator may, but isn’t required to, call attention to errors by commenting on them inside square brackets.

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Do you need the original documents in order to do the translation?

With very few exceptions, it’s enough for you to email me a scan or photo of the document to be translated. I print it out and staple it together with the stamped and signed translation. In fact, the translation is only valid together with a copy of the source document. In the vast majority of cases, that’s enough. Only occasionally will a government office of institution insist on being shown the original.

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How do I get the translation?

After preparing the translation, I email it to you – usually as a pdf file – for you to check. After making all of the changes and/or corrections you request, I prepare the final stamped and certified printout of the translation for you. You can pick it up if you wish, otherwise I send it to you by regular mail.

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How long does it take?

I’m usually able to email you the translation as a pdf file within a day or two after receiving your order. Longer documents may take more time. After you've approved it, if it's urgent it makes sense for you to pick the translation up here at my office in Frankfurt-Fechenheim.​

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Do you also translate handwritten texts?

I’m occasionally asked to translate official documents or other texts that are partly or completely handwritten. They may be too difficult for me to decipher, for example if they are written in old German scripts such as Kurrent (the handwritten version of Fraktur) or Sütterlin. I therefore take a close look at them before deciding whether or not I can do the job, and if so, what I would charge.

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What file formats can you work with?

I can work with all standard MS Office formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) as well as image files in popular formats such as jpg, gif, tif, bmp and pdf. If you need a document in another format, ask me and I'll find out how to do it.

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Apostille and legalization: what’s the difference?

In order to use documents issued by the authorities or courts of one country in another country, it can be necessary to confirm their authenticity with a special process. Specifically, they need to be provided with a so-called “Den Haag apostille” or “legalization.” The so-called "Den Haag apostille" is an annotation in a certain defined format that was introduced in 1961 by the so-called Den Haag Apostille Convention. It is used to confirm that a signature is genuine and that the signatory is authorized to issue a public document, the original of which must be presented. The apostille has to be issued by a domestic authority of the country where the document originated. Foreign representations such as embassies don’t have that right.

 

Legalization goes a step further and confirms both that the signature is genuine and that the document’s issuer is authorized. It can be performed in a consulate of the country in which the document is to be used. Both are possible, for example, at the Frankfurt am Main District Court. An apostille currently costs €18 there and legalization €25. More detailed information is available on the website of the German Foreign Office, among other places.​​​​​​​​​​

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How much does a translation cost?

I calculate the cost of each job based on multiple factors that include the amount of text, the required formatting work, the readability of the original and other factors. It's always necessary for me to see the document in order to quote you a fair price. Please see the chapter on pricing for detailed information.