Certified Translation of Court Documents

Legal and judicial documents are those originating from judicial, notarial, or administrative proceedings: court judgments, powers of attorney, deeds, criminal record certificates, administrative resolutions, insurance policies, and other instruments with binding legal effect. When these documents must take effect in a country different from the one in which they were issued, or when a foreign document of this type must be submitted to Spanish authorities, the law requires them to be accompanied by a sworn translation of legal documents, signed and stamped by a sworn translator accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEC). This collection brings together the eleven most requested judicial and legal documents:

Sworn translation of criminal record certificate
The sworn translation of criminal records is one of the most frequently requested services in this collection. It is required for long-term visa applications, permanent residency and citizenship processes abroad, family reunification procedures, and employment in regulated sectors where applicants must prove that their country of origin has no criminal record. The sworn translation must accurately reproduce all details of the certificate: personal identification data, type of offences if any, date of issue, and issuing authority. Mc LEHM Express delivers the sworn translation of criminal record certificates within 24 hours starting from €17.95.

Sworn translation of sexual offences certificate
This certificate, required in Spain for working in certain environments with minors or vulnerable individuals, may also be required in its foreign version when the applicant comes from another country. Its sworn translation into Spanish is essential so that the Spanish authorities can verify its content.

Sworn translation of power of attorney
The sworn translation of a power of attorney is required when the grantor or attorney must act before institutions in another country: for selling property abroad while being absent, managing an international inheritance, representing a legal entity before foreign authorities, or delegating signature authority in consular procedures. A power of attorney is a document with highly specific legal terminology that requires a sworn translator specialised in legal translation.

Sworn translation of deeds
Notarial deeds—such as deeds of sale, company incorporation, donation, or mortgage—must be sworn translated when they are to be enforced in another country or when the parties involved are of different nationalities. The sworn translation of deeds reproduces all elements of the public instrument with precision: parties involved, clauses, conditions, and the notarial authentication record.

Sworn translation of administrative resolutions
Administrative resolutions such as residence permits, immigration rulings, or work authorisations issued abroad require sworn translation into Spanish to be valid before the Spanish Administration. Conversely, a Spanish administrative resolution may require translation to take effect in another country.

Sworn translation of insurance policies
The sworn translation of insurance policies is required in cross-border claims involving parties of different nationalities, claims submitted to foreign insurers, visa applications requiring proof of international medical coverage, and cross-border litigation where the policy forms part of the legal file.

Sworn translation of vehicle registration certificate
The vehicle registration certificate (a document proving vehicle ownership) requires sworn translation in vehicle import and export procedures between countries, in registration processes for cars purchased abroad, and in international insurance claims where ownership must be proven.

Sworn translation of weapons licences and ownership documents
Firearms licences and weapons ownership documents certify the legal possession of a firearm. Their sworn translation is required when the holder travels abroad with the weapon or when a foreign holder seeks to regularise ownership in Spain.

Sworn translation of adoption judgment
The sworn translation of adoption judgments is one of the most sensitive documents in this collection. It is required to register international adoptions in the Spanish Civil Registry, to enable the adopted child to obtain Spanish nationality, and for all subsequent documentation procedures. It demands maximum terminological precision and deep knowledge of the legal systems of both countries.

Sworn translation of custody agreements (divorce settlements)
Custody agreements are the arrangements that establish the terms of divorce: child custody, visitation rights, child support, and division of assets. When one parent resides in another country or when the agreement must be enforced abroad, a sworn translation is required for it to have legal validity before the courts or authorities of the other country.

How much does a sworn translation of legal documents cost?

The price of sworn translation of legal documents at Mc LEHM express starts from €17.95 for short documents such as criminal record certificates, certificates of sex offenses, driving licenses, firearm licenses, and firearm ownership permits, and from €22.95 for documents of greater legal complexity and variable length: powers of attorney, deeds, administrative resolutions, insurance policies, adoption decrees, and regulatory agreements.

Documents in this collection have prices starting from these base amounts because the length can vary significantly from one case to another.

In which languages are sworn translations of legal documents performed?

Mc LEHM express performs sworn translations of legal and judicial documents between Spanish and the most in-demand languages: English, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Russian, among others.

The most common combination in this collection is the sworn translation of criminal records into Spanish for citizens of North African, Eastern European, and Latin American countries, although powers of attorney in English and German and adoption decrees in Chinese, Russian, and Arabic are also very frequent.

The sworn translation service for documents with a high legal terminological load (powers of attorney, deeds, resolutions) is carried out by sworn translators specialized in legal and judicial translation, not generalist translators.

This specialization is essential to ensure that technical terms in the document (appearing party, certifying officer, attorney-in-fact, resolutory clause) are translated with the accuracy required by courts and notaries.

How long does a sworn translation of legal documents take?

The standard turnaround time is 24 hours for short documents (criminal records, driving licenses, firearm licenses). For longer documents such as deeds, insurance policies, or regulatory agreements, the turnaround time can extend to 48 hours depending on the volume.

If you need an urgent sworn translationof any legal document, at Mc LEHM express we specialize in this.

What is the validity of a sworn translation of legal documents?

A sworn translation of legal documents carried out by an official sworn translator has full legal validity before courts, notaries, registries, consulates, embassies, and public administrations both in Spain and abroad.

The official translation of documentsdelivered by Mc LEHM express includes the sworn statement of the sworn translator authorized by the MAEC, their digital signature, their registration number in the official list, and their seal.

The validity has no intrinsic expiration, although some organizations may require the original document to have been issued within a specific period.

How does the online sworn translation service for legal documents work?

The process is completely digital: choose the product in this collection, upload the document as a PDF or image, select the original and target languages, and confirm payment.

The team of sworn translators at Mc LEHM express processes the order and delivers the sworn translation in PDF with digital signature and seal to your email within the agreed timeframe.

It is not necessary to send the original on paper or visit any office. The online sworn translation has exactly the same legal validity as one delivered in physical format.

Sworn translation, legal translation or juridical translation: what's the difference?

This is one of the most common questions. A sworn translation is signed and sealed by a sworn translator accredited by the MAEC, and it is the only one with full legal recognition by public bodies in Spain.

A legal translationis a thematic category (referring to texts in the field of law) but does not in itself imply that it is endorsed by an official sworn translator. A juridical translation is another colloquial expression that can refer to either of the two above.

When a court, notary, consulate or public administration asks for the official translation of legal documents, what they require in all cases is a sworn translation signed by a professional listed in the MAEC registry.

Submitting a non-sworn translation (even if it is of high quality) will result in the rejection of the document and require repeating the process from the beginning.

Do I need an apostille on foreign legal documents in addition to a sworn translation?

In many cases, yes. Legal documents issued abroad, such as judgments, powers of attorney, and administrative resolutions, must be duly legalized before their sworn translationtakes effect in Spain.

If the issuing country is a signatory to the 1961 Hague Convention, legalization is done through the Hague apostille. If not, consular legalization is required, which is a longer process. In both cases, the usual order is: first legalize the original document (apostille or consular legalization) and then obtain the sworn translation. Consult with MC LEHM express if you have any questions about the specific process for your document before starting the procedure.