There are often two actions required of translations when used for business or government sources, and that is certification and notarization. Both come with a level of security, but by no means are they equal. Simply put, a certification can only be performed by someone who is certified in the specific languages of the translation, while a notarized translation can be provided by any translator. It may sound odd, but there are different reasons for having both.
Notarized Translations
Notarized translations are a third party check that the person who has completed the work is declaring that the work is complete, done to the best of their ability, and accurate. These types of notarizations are often required by private clients as a second measure of security, and should the information be proven false, the translator may be held liable by filing a false notarization. This act is taken very seriously, which is why notarized translations work so well with smaller legal and semi-legal documents.
A certified translation, on the other hand, is a very legally binding certification that the translator themselves are certified by a governing body, first of all, as being able to completely and fluently translate the document sitting before them. Once the document is translated by a certified translator, the proper documentation is completed and the document itself then becomes certified. Certification can only be authorized by a governing body, while a notarization can be provided by the translator themselves.
Why Use one Over the Other
Generally speaking, a notarization is less costly because there is less value attached to the final product. There is no governance over the translation as with a certification, and the notarization can be obtained by a simple swearing of an oath. To this extent, the professional services are slightly less worthwhile, and therefore, less expensive.
However, that does not mean that the translation is a less worthy product. It simply means there is less imperative for a third party to verify the veracity of the translator. Someone may only need the translation for daily business, and not necessarily for legal work, when the case will be for a need for certified translation. The notary seal gives the user a sense of comfort, knowing that someone who did prepare the translation signed an oath that their work was true and the copy is accurate to the original text.
About CreditEval LLC
We provide certified and notarized translations for all documents from any country in the world. Our highly skilled professional translators are qualified, bilingual native speakers. They are selected based on their experience and special areas of expertise.