Mr. Woods Translations

In Germany, only officially authorized (sworn) translators may make and sell certified (informally "notarized") translations of personal documents such as birth certificates, diplomas, marriage certificates, driver's licenses etc.  ​​

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I have been authorized by the Frankfurt am Main Regional Court (Landgericht) to prepare certified translations between English and German. Certification is an important requirement for translated documents to be accepted by government bodies and other institutions. I insert a signed and dated statement that that translation is a complete and true rendering of the original, apply my official stamp, and sign the document. This ensures that it will be accepted by all authorities in Germany and most of the other more than 120 countries that have signed the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.

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To find out what a certified translation of your document will cost, send it to me as a scan, photo or PDF file. I'll get back to you right away with a quote.

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I provide you with certified translations of a wide range of documents including: 

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• Account statements

• Affidavits

• Alimony documents

• Apostilles

• Awards

• Birth certificates

• Business licenses

• Certificates of descent

• Certificates of good conduct

• Child custody documents

• Criminal records

• Curricula vitae

• Death certificates

• Diplomas

• Disinheritance documents

• Divorce decrees

• Driver's licenses

• Doctoral degrees

• Examination certificates

• Excerpts from the commercial register

• Internship certificates

• Job references

• Letters and certificates of employment

• Letters of reference

• Marriage licenses

• Naturalization documents

• Report cards

• Residence permits

• Statutory declarations

• Tax documents

• Wills

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How it works

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You send me a scan or photocopy of each page of the document you need translated. That’s enough – I don’t need to receive or see the original. I then tell you right away what it would cost and how much time I would need to get the finished translation to you (answer: not much! I believe in prompt service).

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​After finishing the translation, I email it to you as a pdf file for you to check and tell me if you want anything changed or corrected. As soon as you have approved the translation, I mail you a stamped and certified copy. To save time, you're also welcome to personally pick it up here in the Fechenheim borough of Frankfurt am Main. If you’re in the area, that can save two or three days (the German postal service used to take only a day to deliver most items, but that's history now). If you need additional certified copies, I’ll be happy to prepare them for a small fee.​

 

Apostille and legalization

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In order for you to use a document issued by a government office or court in another country, it may also be necessary to confirm its authenticity with a so-called "Hague apostille," also called "legalization." The effect of a Hague apostille is similar to notarization because it also confirms that the translator's signature is authentic and that he or she is authorized. It can only be issued by a domestic authority of the country where the document originated (that excludes foreign representations such as embassies and consulates).

 

Legalization goes a step further and also confirms that the issuer is authorized and the signature is authentic. It's a complicated multi-step procedure. Typically, it involves a whole chain of certifications by one or more authorities of the country where the document was issued and the country where it will be used. One authority certifies the document's issuer, and each subsequent authority certifies the one before that, with the final certification being made by an authority of the destination country. Say, for example, that a document issued by the city of Frankfurt needs to be accepted in Mexico. If it hasn’t been issued by a municipal official, first it has to be certified by a notary public, who must be certified by the clerk of the district court, who in turn has to be certified by an authorized official of the state of Hesse, who needs to be certified by the German Federal Foreign Office which then, finally, has to be certified by the Mexican Embassy in Berlin.

​The Frankfurt am Main Regional Court (Landgericht) can provide both legalizations and apostilles. More information is available on its website (in German only).

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