Legal Translation - Translation of Contracts, Court and Notarial Documents

Legal translation is one of the most precise and responsible areas of translation. In a legal text, a single incorrectly rendered term, phrase, date, description of authority or wording of an obligation can cause financial loss, misunderstanding, the return of the document or legal complications. That is why legal documents must not be translated superficially or only word for word.

A legal text requires an understanding of the legal context. The terms used in a contract, a court decision, a charter, a power of attorney or a registry extract are often tied to a specific legal system. So when translating, what matters is not only knowledge of the language, but also taking into account the purpose of the document, the receiving party and the format in which it will be used.

What types of legal documents do we translate?

Legal translation covers both personal legal documents and corporate, court, notarial, banking, administrative and international legal texts. Sometimes a client needs a single page translated, for example a power of attorney or a consent, and sometimes a large contract, a court case, a corporate package or international documentation is translated.

Translation of contracts

Contract translation is one of the most requested areas of legal translation. A contract defines the parties' rights, obligations, liability, payment terms, deadlines, the termination mechanism and the dispute resolution procedure. So every clause must be rendered precisely in the translation, without changing its legal meaning.

We translate sale and purchase, lease, service, employment, partnership, distribution, supply, loan, confidentiality, international and other types of contracts. Where needed, a bilingual format can be prepared, in which the original and the translation are placed side by side or in an agreed structure.

We pay particular attention to the clauses that are read first in a dispute:

• Force Majeure - which event releases a party from liability and within what period it must notify the other party;
• Jurisdiction / Governing Law - which country's law applies and where the dispute is heard: in court or in arbitration;
• Liability / Indemnity - the limit of liability, contractual penalties and the rules for compensation of damage;
• Termination - the grounds for unilateral termination and the notice period.

In detail: translation of contracts and agreements. How a bilingual contract differs from an ordinary translation - bilingual or ordinary contract.

Translation of court documents

Accuracy is especially important when translating court documents, because such texts may be used in legal proceedings, at an embassy, in a foreign court, by a lawyer, in a state body or in another official process. Court decisions, statements of claim, statements of defence, evidence and procedural materials must be translated clearly, in line with legal terminology.

Such documents often contain legal arguments, references to the law, factual circumstances, the parties' data, deadlines and claims. All these parts must be rendered correctly in the translation, because even a small inaccuracy can lead to additional explanations or to the document having to be translated again. On large cases we work under an NDA, on a schedule matched to the procedural deadline: translation of court materials and litigation documents.

Translation of powers of attorney, consents and notarial acts

A power of attorney, a consent and a notarial act are often used for submission abroad, to a state body, a bank, a court, the registry or another official organization. Such documents confirm authority, consent or a legal fact, so in the translation it is especially important to render names, surnames, personal data, deadlines and powers precisely.

If the document has to be submitted abroad, a notarized translation or a check on the apostille question is often needed. Closely related is the separate power of attorney translation service, where the process of translating powers of attorney is described in detail. The whole group of notarial acts and matching names to the passport are described on the page translation of notarial acts, powers of attorney and consents, and the rules for sending documents abroad - in the article apostille or legalization for a power of attorney.

Translation of company and registry documents

Translation of corporate documents is often needed for a bank, for communication with a foreign partner, for an investor, a tender, an embassy, international registration or a legal procedure. Such documents may contain the company name, identification number, the director's details, partners, shares, the registration date, the legal address and other official information.

When translating a registry extract, a charter, minutes or another company document, consistent terminology and preservation of the structure are needed. If you specifically need a translation of a Public Registry or company extract, you can also see the registry extract translation page. For foreigners who are opening a company or obtaining a residence permit in Georgia: translation of the business registration and immigration (TRP) package.

Legal translation with notarization

In many cases the translation of a legal document requires notarization. The notary certifies the authenticity of the translator's signature, while the bureau answers for the accuracy of the translation. This format is often needed for embassies, courts, banks, state bodies, foreign organizations and administrative processes.

If you need to use the document officially, check in advance whether the receiving party requires a notarized translation. Where needed, TARGMANEBI will also help you with notarization.

Apostille and legalization for legal documents

If a legal document has to be submitted abroad, sometimes an apostille or legalization is needed together with the translation. Whether an apostille is needed depends on the country, the type of document and the requirements of the receiving body. In some cases the apostille is placed on the original document, sometimes on a notarized copy, and in some cases a notarized translation alone is sufficient. A notarized translation made in Georgia is not apostilled.

If you do not know which format you need, you can write to us and send us the text of the requirement. You can also see the apostille page, which describes when you may need additional certification of a document.

Confidentiality in legal translation

Legal documents often contain sensitive information: personal data, financial details, commercial terms, dispute materials, internal corporate information or the terms of an agreement between parties. That is why confidentiality is one of the main requirements in legal translation.

TARGMANEBI handles documents responsibly. Where needed, a confidentiality agreement or NDA can be signed. This is especially important for corporate documents, court materials, business transactions, financial documents and personal legal matters.

Which languages do we translate legal texts into?

We translate legal documents from Georgian into foreign languages and from foreign languages into Georgian. The most requested are legal translations into English, Russian, Turkish, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Ukrainian, Arabic and Chinese. Whether translation into other languages is possible depends on the subject, volume and deadline of the document.

Multilingual and cross legal translations

In an international transaction, Georgian is often the language of neither party. A company registered in Tbilisi signs an English contract with a Spanish buyer, a Turkish partner asks for a Russian-language charter, and an investor needs the same package in three languages. In such cases we carry out cross-translation - directly from one foreign language into another, without an intermediate Georgian version.

Double translation (English - Georgian - Spanish) doubles the risk of error: at every step the term shifts slightly, and in the end "reasonable endeavours" can turn into an obligation to make "every effort". A direct translation removes this chain.

• Typical pairs: English - Spanish, English - German, Russian - Turkish, Russian - English, English - Arabic;
• Multilingual package: one document in several languages with a single terminology glossary, so that the same term reads the same way in every version;
• Uniform format: article numbering, definitions (Definitions) and annexes match one another in every language;
• Notarization: we check whether it is possible for the specific language pair before you order.

Legal editing and proofreading (Proofreading)

Often a contract has already been translated - by a company employee, a partner or another bureau. If only a few days are left before signing and the value of the deal is high, a new translation is not needed. What is needed is legal editing: an independent translator compares the translation with the original clause by clause.

What we check:

• Obligations and liability: whether "shall" and "may" have been mixed up - an obligation and a right are different things;
• Terminology: whether Warranty, Guarantee and Indemnity have been rendered with one and the same word;
• Figures and deadlines: amounts, currency, percentages, dates, "working" and "calendar" days;
• Details of the parties: company names, identification numbers, the authority of representatives;
• Missing text: sub-clauses, footnotes and annexes that did not make it into the translation.

As a result you receive the corrected text in Track Changes mode and comments on every disputed point, so that your lawyer can make the final decision quickly. Checking general texts is described on the editing and proofreading page.

How do you order the translation of a legal document?

You can order a legal translation online or at the office. You can send the document on WhatsApp, by email or through the order form on the website. After receiving the file we check the volume, the legal complexity, the target language and the need for notarization.

How long does a legal translation take?

A power of attorney, a consent, an extract, a notarial act or a standard contract is ready the same or next day, with notarization too if needed. A large court case, a corporate package or a multilingual project is delivered in parts: first the documents you have to submit first within the deadline.

If you need the document before a court deadline, an embassy appointment, a bank procedure or the signing of a contract, write to us in advance. That way we can plan the translation better and, if needed, the notarization too.

Why TARGMANEBI?

In legal translation, what matters most is accuracy, confidentiality, preservation of the legal meaning and a properly arranged format. TARGMANEBI works with legal, medical, technical, financial, business and personal documents, so we can help you prepare both a simple document and a complex legal text professionally.

• translation of contracts, court materials and notarial documents;
• translation of corporate, registry and business documents;
• notarization if needed;
• advice on apostille and legalization;
• a confidential working process;
• online ordering via WhatsApp or email;
• cross-translation between foreign languages and legal editing of an existing translation;
• a standard document the same or next day;
• Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and online service from all over Georgia.

We provide translation of European (English, German, Slovak, etc.) legal documents, taking into account the legal specifics of the country concerned.

Frequently asked questions