You have an appointment at a notary's office in the State of Hesse or Rhineland-Palatinate and require a sworn interpreter? I will be happy to assist you through the notarisation process with my specialised knowledge and language skills, whether it be incorporation of a limited liability company under German law, granting a power of attorney, purchasing real estate property, or finalising a prenuptial agreement.
I interpret in notarial offices regularly. My experience in this field is evidenced by numerous recommendation letters that you can view here. In addition, in my capacity as a state-certified and authorised translator in English, German and Polish, I deal with notarial instruments on a daily basis: I translate and certify notarised documents for official purposes, making them legally binding in their translated version.
Here are some of the key benefits available to you via my services:
Smooth communication throughout your appointment
Language is no barrier: explanations on key provisions as well as any questions or queries from non-German speakers can be fully understood by all interested parties.
Legally watertight notarisation
The instrument is signed by me as an impartial interpreter. This eliminates any claims against the legal transaction in the future due to misunderstandings because of the language barrier.
Consultation included
In over 10 years of my professional experience I have been involved in many notarial recordings. Based on my expertise, I can support you in organisational and practical matters as well as explain to you the notarial procedure in Germany and the usual ways of handling foreign parties in notarial recordings.
Guaranteed data protection
Any notarial recording involves the processing of sensitive personal data. Because of my legal obligation to treat all contents confidentially, I am prohibited from disclosing any details to third parties.
Professional indemnity insurance
As a precautionary measure, I am (and you are, as my customer) insured against any financial loss resulting from my translation work (coverage up to EUR 5 million)
Notarial Procedure
The notary has a neutral role to play: he or she supervises the legal transaction and makes sure that all parties are aware of the agreed provisions and do fully understand the contents of the document they sign. Under Section 16 of the German Notarisation Act, when a party, either by their own statement and/or in the opinion of the notary, does not have a sufficient command of German, a qualified interpreter needs to be summoned to join the proceedings. The presence of an interpreter is recommended in any case because notarial appointments are not just about general language skills, but rather they require deep understanding of complex legal terms in two languages, i.e. something that sworn interpreters with their specialised legal knowledge master particularly well.
The contents of the agreement are read aloud in German by the notary and translated either simultaneously (by whispering) or consecutively section by section. The legal substance needs to be rendered into English as accurately as possible. However, my role as an interpreter is not confined to translating the wording itself. When discussing the provisions, the notary will try to explain the contents in plain language and address any questions and doubts the parties may have. These discussions need to be translated in a way that all participants fully understand each other and, most importantly, sign the respective document with full knowledge of its consequences. I sign the document as well, contributing to the legal certainty of the transaction and ensuring that the parties will not suffer any legal disadvantage or additional costs in the future.
Translation and Interpreting Service
Because of their complexity, it is advisable to get the drafts of notarial deeds translated in writing prior to the appointment. This way any questions regarding the contents can be clarified before the notarisation, making the appointment itself shorter and giving the parties the benefit of convenient preparation. Furthermore, when the draft is translated, it is easier to issue a certified translation of the final notarised document for submission with the authorities, if necessary.
Please send me the drafts by e-mail or let me know the contact details of the notary in charge, which will enable me to obtain them directly for my perusal. After viewing the drafts, I will be able to send you a cost estimate and also prepare myself for the interpreting assignment. I can then translate the often difficult contents of your legal document directly "from sight".
Fees
Professional translation does mean additional costs and any attempt to avoid them is understandable. However, the decision to not use the services of a qualified interpreter may be beneficial only for a short time, since legal and financial consequences of a mistranslated or misunderstood agreement could, in the end, cost dearly.
The fees for translation and interpreting services are based on the German Judicial Remuneration Act (JVEG). The following items are invoiced for interpreting at notarial recordings:
- Interpreting work during the appointment
- Time of travel
- Cost of travel (reimbursement of costs/mileage)
- Content-wise preparation (does not apply, if I am commissioned to translate the draft in writing as well)
Note: the notarisation fees calculated by the notary are based on the German Act on Court and Notarial Fees. However, the translation costs (along with e.g. real estate agent commissions or taxes) are not included in the notarial fees, they are always paid separately.
I will be pleased to send you a cost estimate for interpreting during your notarial appointment and, if necessary, for issuing a written translation of the document. Should you have further questions, feel free to call me at (+49) 06131/6064914.
