format for legal translations

[nataliacos]

Hi! Does anyone know which translation format is requiered in the US? Mirror or lineal? Thanks in advance!!

[nataliacos]

Just in case...When I say "mirror translation" I mean reproducing the exact format of the orig doc, including seals, signatures, etc.
In Arg, on the contrary, we tend to do what we call "traducción lineal". For example, instead of copying seals, signatures, etc, we have to "describe" what we observe as translators such as: "There follows the illegible signature of the secretary..." or "On the right-hand corner there is a seal which reads..."
Please, I look forward to an answer!!!

[Hebe]

Hi Nataliacos. I really don´t know the format thhey use in USA, however, I have translated lots for legal documents (Span to EN) for USA purposes using what you call Lineal Translation and they have all been accepted by various US institutions and entities.

The format I use is as follows:

1. Heading. including all the data evidencing my capacity as government-certified (official/ legal) translator.

2- Translation of the text:

3 -Translator's notes: which include inidcation of every seal, stamp legalization, etc, contained in the original document

4 - Final certiifcation statement (IN WITNESS WHEREOF") with my seal and signature.

Hope these tips help.

[nataliacos]

Thanks so much Hebe for your answer!!!
The thing is that I'm used to the same format you mentioned and now there are some translation agencies which ask me to stick to this "mirror" format. Of course, as I'm in Argentina, they take care of the final certification statement and such stuff. Has anybody been asked the same? Thanks a lot in advance!!! Any comments are welcome