Google Translate is one of the most known translation applications globally, along with iTranslate and Microsoft Translate. But in the field of law and legal documentation, the translator should be a person who is fluent with the languages to use in the translation. And, of course, translation applications may not be as helpful since there are some instances where literal translations are not the same as to what’s meant. However, the translator of the document should also be legally certified and must sign an acknowledgment, specifically an affidavit of translation.
6500 is the numerical figure of the number of languages spoken in the world in today’s generation. English tops the most spoken language, while Mandarin Chinese falls in second place, followed by Hindi, Spanish, and Arabic. With that in mind, it’s no wonder why translators are in high demand in the US and in other countries. After all, they serve as bridges for people to understand one another. But before a translator becomes accepted and hired, he must first prove his language fluency, and he can only do that by getting certified by the American Translator Association. After getting the certification, he can proceed with working in agencies and organizations that translate documents. However, since he is already a certified translator, is an affidavit of translation still necessary? The answer to the question above is a big YES. Why? Because the purpose of an affidavit of translation is to inform the authorities or the ones who will be verifying the translated legal form that its translations were accurate. Apart from that, the affidavit also includes an area for stating the identity and competency of the translator.
And lastly, a notarization area should also be in the affidavit. It’s for the seal and signature of the notary public to prove that the parties involved are accurately represented.
Affidavits are identical to legal declaration statements, but their differences lie solely on the presence and seal of the notary public. Specifically, affidavits need to be signed in the presence of the notary, while the latter does not require. Nonetheless, below are samples of affidavit of translations that you can use right away:
