Imagine you are at a notary’s office in Germany to finalize a deal to purchase land. The notary proceeds to read out the contents of the contract, but there is a catch. He reads the contract in German. You, being a non-German-speaking individual, hardly understand what the notary is saying. You had brought a German friend along, but unfortunately, he too doesn’t understand much.
This scenario highlights how important it is to partner with professional German interpreters during a notary office visit. Their presence is the difference between confidently signing a contract and unknowingly agreeing to terms that might not benefit you.
In this blog, we will discuss the role of professionally sworn German interpreters at a notary.
Importance of German Interpreters at a Notary
Legal procedures in Germany, like real estate dealings, marriage, or wills, often require notarization to be deemed valid. However, in cases where either of the involved parties does not speak German, the law allows them to bring along an interpreter.
The German Notarization Act, or “Beurkundungsgesetz,” directs that a notary must read the contract aloud, and the interpreter must translate it accurately to ensure their client understands everything, including the legal terms and consequences, dialogue, and any essential clarification.
However, the importance of legal clarity in notary raises the question:
“Can anyone be the interpreter?”
Technically, yes, anyone fluent in the German language can act as the interpreter during notary meetings; however, taking the help of an unqualified person might lead to
- Mistranslation of complex legal terms.
- Misunderstanding of important clauses.
- Poor communication with the notary officer.
- Vulnerability to future legal consequences.
To avoid such challenges, it is advised to only rely on sworn German interpreters to provide the best possible services.
Let us further explore with the following scenario.
A Risky Scenario
An Indian woman is about to sign a prenuptial agreement in Germany. Instead of hiring a sworn interpreter, she brings along a bilingual friend, who is proficient in English and German. Unfortunately, her friend’s limited legal vocabulary leads to several terms like “nachehelicher unterhalt” (post-marital inheritance) being mistranslated.
A few years later, during the divorce, the woman discovers that the prenuptial contract affects her financial rights. She decides to challenge this in court, blaming her friend’s mistranslation, but the court denies her motion, as the German law doesn’t necessitate an interpreter to be a professional. Stuck with the consequences of her naivety, the woman finally understands the essential role of a professional, sworn German interpreter for notary business.
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How Can a Professional Interpreter Help?
Fortunately, unlike the woman mentioned above, you do not have to face the same consequences if you partner with professional interpreters.
They can help you by
- Offering clear and accurate translation of every detail in the notarization procedure.
- Interpreting all the legal terms clearly, so you are aware of the consequences.
- Asking the notary officer for any further required clarification.
- Maintaining complete confidentiality and neutrality.
A sworn German interpreter also prepares for the meeting in advance, leaving no stone unturned to provide you with the best linguistic support possible.
Like in the notary office, video interpretation in healthcare is also a very essential service. The medical industry places a lot of weight on accuracy, and the best way to ensure that is to only partner with professional medical interpreters.
However, individuals often find it difficult to find the right interpreter. If you, too, have faced a similar problem, then no worries, just check out this blog: Medical Interpreters: How to Choose the Right One?
Are Certified and Sworn Interpreters the Same?
On the surface, it seems that certified and sworn interpreters are the same. However, there are certain differences that make it necessary to understand which to use in which scenario.
- Sworn Interpreters: They are professional, often court-appointed, and adept at interpreting legal conversations in notary offices.
- Certified Interpreter: An interpreter recognized by reputed interpretation institutions, like the American Translators Association (ATA), National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI), or the Federal Association of Interpreters and Translators. They are often used in courts, embassies, and other official scenarios.
Language Professionals Truly Help
Although a sworn interpreter in Delhi might cost more than a bilingual friend, it is vital to consider what’s at stake here. A simple mistranslation in notarized documents can lead to severe legal consequences. A professional German interpreter ensures complete clarity about the legal system and the consequences of failure to adhere to it. Whether looking for a German interpreter or planning for the next notary appointment, always rely on experts such as Somya Translators, an ISO 17100:2015 certified language service provider. As one of the leading certified translation services in India, we believe diversity in global languages must never hamper clear communication.
Armed with expert German linguists, efficient workflow, and a quick response time, we can handle all linguistic needs.
We offer exceptional translation for many legal documents, such as
- Contracts
- Statute
- Compliance Documents
- Affidavits
- Court Documents
- Marriage and Divorce Certificates
- Patents
- Intellectual Property
And much more.
So, whether you want a reliable German interpreter to tag along in the notary office or want to translate complex legal documents into 170+ languages, then do remember to partner with a professional like us.
Contact us now and get a free quote!