Legal Translations: A Growing Field

With the significant influx of Latin American immigrants in the US, it is becoming increasingly important to cater to this emerging population. As a result, there is a growing need for accurate and precise Spanish translations. In particular, the translation of legal documents is of key importance because of its use for immigration and naturalization purposes. When executed, a legal document in any language bears legal liabilities. Thus, the translation of such a document has the same legal effect as the original thereby making requirements for accuracy high in legal translation.

Federal and local government agencies require that any document submitted is translated to English and accompanied by a certification signed by a translator. This certification must include a statement that the translator is competent to translate the document, and that the translation is true and accurate to the best of the translator’s abilities.  For instance, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services do not accept foreign birth certificates unless they are translated into English and have the corresponding translator’s certification at the end. The same rules apply to translated marriage and death certificates, contracts, identifications, and statements.

With this in mind, it is important to note that several states have taken an initiative to translate court documents in order to make the state’s legal system more accessible to immigrants. An example of such a project is in process in the state of Nebraska. The project is called Nebraska Efforts to Ensure Equal Access to Justice and will have an estimated cost of $25,669.50, which will be largely funded by a donation from the Woods Charitable Fund of Lincoln. It is expected that by early next year, documents including requests for child support, name change, and divorce will be available in Spanish, Vietnamese and Arabic. This new translation initiative has set a precedent for other states to follow as a means to reduce the barriers that non-native English speakers face in the legal system.

By Karina Lairet