For certified translators, legal texts are a core competence. One of the pillars in a certified translator’s five-year training is comparative law between Denmark and other language areas. Having said that, many translators choose to specialize in particular legal disciplines, acquiring experience with company law documents (articles of association, shareholder agreements and so on), insolvency law, employment law, civil action summonses, criminal law, financial legislation etc.
We are no legal beagles, but it is important that we understand the content and purpose of the document and its ranking in a lawsuit or trial. That enables us to set the document in a foreign context, making it easier for the party receiving the translation to understand. We keep abreast of legislative developments in our language areas and make a point of continuing professional development (CPD).
Our client base includes many law firms. The assignments range from all manner of contracts, loan raising documentation, warranties, property deals, powers of attorney, company formation and writs and so on. For private individuals we translate matrimonial property agreements, divorce decrees and awards, and other court transcripts, custody cases, wills and probate cases, powers of attorney and property transactions.
Legal documents often have to be translated with certification. That is, the translatør signs to say the translation is a correct and complete rendition of the source text. The certification is written on a separate page of our business paper, so that the recipient has an opportunity to contact us and verify our identity. In some situations, the certified translation must be legalized with a notarial certificate or a stamp from the Danish Chamber of Commerce and an apostille certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is also something we offer assistance and advice with, of course.