Legal Document Translation, When Every Word Matters.

Legal translation services for immigration, courts and contracts

Immigration officers, judges and opposing counsel read translated documents closely. A transposed date, a misspelled name or a legal term rendered too loosely can lead to a request for evidence, a delay or a dispute.

This guide explains what U.S. immigration authorities ask for, how courts and attorneys use translated documents, and how to prepare your documents so your certified translation is right the first time. Lingua. is an independent legal translation company based in Miami, working online with individuals, attorneys and businesses throughout the United States. We are not affiliated with USCIS or any court, and acceptance of a document is always decided by the receiving office.

USCIS certified translation requirements

Federal regulations require that any foreign-language document submitted to USCIS be accompanied by a full English translation. The translator must certify that the translation is complete and accurate and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

In practice, that means:

• Translate everything. Stamps, seals, handwritten notes and marginal annotations are part of the document. Summaries or extracts are not enough.
• Include the certification. Every Lingua. certified translation includes a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy that covers both points the regulation names.
• Notarization is generally not required by USCIS for properly certified translations, though other offices may ask for it.
• Submit the translation with a copy of the original, so the officer can compare them.

USCIS does not approve or accredit translation companies. What it specifies is what the translation and its certification must contain.

Birth certificates, marriage certificates and divorce decrees

Birth certificate translation for USCIS

A birth certificate is often the first document in an immigration file, and every other document is checked against it. The details that matter most are names, dates and places. Names should be rendered consistently with your passport. If your name is written in another script, or the record uses a different spelling, note the spelling you use when you order.

Marriage certificate translation for immigration

Marriage certificates frequently carry registry annotations: later corrections, name changes or divorce notes written in the margin. These are translated along with the main text. Leaving them out can make the translation incomplete.

Divorce decree translation

Translate the complete final decree, not only the first page. Include the court’s seal and any page confirming that the judgment became final. If the court also issued a shorter divorce certificate, ask the receiving office which document it needs.

Contracts, court documents and affidavits

Legal translation is where precise terminology matters most. Legal concepts do not always map neatly from one system to another, and a translator has to render the meaning without inventing an equivalence that isn’t there.

• Court documents: judgments, orders, pleadings, police and court records. Case numbers, court names and dates must be exact.
• Legal contracts: agreements, leases, powers of attorney. Defined terms should be translated the same way every time they appear.
• Affidavits and sworn statements: the translation preserves the declarant’s wording and the notarial or court formalities around it.

A translator renders the document; they don’t give legal advice or change its substance. If you’re working with an attorney, share any preferred terminology with us before translation begins. Businesses with recurring legal or compliance work can use our corporate translation service.

For law firms and legal departments

Legal matters rarely involve a single document. Tell us when several documents belong to the same matter, so party names, defined terms and case references are translated consistently across all of them. Each document can be certified on its own for filing. If your matter has confidentiality requirements, such as a non-disclosure agreement, tell us before you send files and we’ll confirm how we can meet them. For larger or ongoing legal work, request a custom quote.

Police certificates and academic records

Police and background certificates

Police certificates from other countries are common in immigration and employment files. They often include verification codes, QR codes or stamps from the issuing authority, all of which belong in the translation. Many offices accept only recently issued certificates, so check the issue date before you order.

Diplomas and transcripts

Diplomas and transcripts are used for credential evaluation, admission and professional licensing. Course titles, grades and grading scales should be translated as they appear, without converting them into U.S. equivalents. That conversion is the evaluator’s job. Include the grading-scale page if your transcript has one.

Prepare your documents

Choose your document type to get a short checklist of what to have ready before you order. Tick items off as you go.

Accuracy, review and confidential handling

Every page handled by a professional translator

Your translation is prepared by a professional human translator working in your language pair. Before the certificate is signed, the translation is checked against the original: names, dates, numbers, case references and seals.

How we handle what can’t be read

Faded stamps, illegible signatures and handwriting are marked clearly in the translation, for example as [illegible] or [seal], rather than guessed. Officials prefer an honest note to an invented word.

Confidential documents

Legal and immigration documents contain sensitive personal information. Upload them only through the order form or send them to our email address, and tell us if your matter has specific confidentiality requirements.

How to request a certified legal translation

1. Open the order form and choose the original and target languages.
2. Add each document separately and upload a clear photo or scan.
3. Choose certification, or certification and notarization, depending on what the receiving office requires.
4. Add notes: name spellings, case numbers, deadlines or terminology from your attorney.
5. Review your itemized total and pay securely. Certified translation starts at $37 per page.

Start a certified translation How certification works

Document going abroad? See apostille services.

Frequently asked questions