Certified translators provide an invaluable service when official or important documents require translation. From adoption documents to educational records to medical records and more, when the document is of critical importance, certified translation is the only way to go. But at the same time, there are certain common mistakes made by those seeking certified translations for the first time – all of which should be avoided at all costs.
Not Vetting the Vendors
For example, not all established certified translation businesses are of the same calibre. They may all be able to get the job done, but when it comes to quality, deadlines and even whether the final document will be accepted, the differences can be night and day. The key therefore being to think proactively about who you work with, carrying out all necessary checks before going ahead.
Not Asking the Right Questions
If you don’t know a thing about certified translations, it’s up to you to ask as many questions as necessary to fill in the blanks. How long it will take? What guarantees are offered? What about getting the documents back? How to order duplicates? These and other questions should be addressed before getting started if possible.
Not Simplifying the Documents
It won’t always be possible, but if there’s any way in which the source document can be simplified, this will make the whole job easier, faster and cheaper. It’s a case of being careful to ensure that all the most important content remains, but getting rid of anything superfluous.
Removing Important Elements
That being said, you also need to be very careful not to remove anything at all that could render the translated version of the document invalid. If it is an official paper of any kind, there’s a good chance it will need to be presented in full in order to be valid. If unsure, the best advice is to only remove anything from an official or legal document under advisement.
Not Going Certified
Last but not least, there will always be instances in which is isn’t actually mandatory to produce a certified translation. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean doing so isn’t the best way to go. If the document needs to be accurate, official, on time and complete, it pays to go with certified translations. Even if it means paying a little more, it’s a case of getting it done right and now having to pay twice.