Certified translation of legal acts

when it is needed

Judicial and administrative proceedings.

A certified translation of legal instruments is required for the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, judicial and administrative proceedings, arbitration, and for filing evidence and submissions before courts and authorities at home and abroad.

what we certify

Court files and instruments.

We translate legal documentation with consistent terminology and register, faithfully to the original.

Court judgments and decisions Claims and submissions Powers of attorney Minutes and settlements Legal opinions Contracts for court proceedings Extracts and certificates

Legal translations and languages.

For the wider context, see legal translations and the general procedure on the certified translations page.

how certification works

Stamp, signature and binding.

A certified translation of a legal instrument is a complete rendering of the document, not just its operative text. Court seals, official stamps, marginal notes, signatures and handwritten additions are all translated or described.

Anything illegible is marked as such. The finished translation is bound to a copy of the source and closes with the interpreter's certification clause.

The certifying interpreter is appointed by the Croatian Ministry of Justice and confirms with a stamp and signature that the translation corresponds to the source.

That certification is what courts and authorities look for when a translated instrument is filed. Bilingua certifies English and German in-house and works with permanent court interpreters for the remaining languages.

OTHER TYPES OF CERTIFICATION

Other types of certified translations.

Frequently asked questions

Have any questions?

Can a foreign court judgment be used in Croatia without a certified translation?

Generally not. For recognition and enforcement of a foreign judgment, Croatian courts expect the decision to be accompanied by a certified translation made by a sworn court interpreter. Bilingua certifies judgments and court decisions from English and German in-house. For other languages it engages appointed court interpreters from its network.

Does a certified translation of a judgment include the stamps and seals on the document?

Yes. Nothing on the instrument is skipped: seals, stamps, signatures, marginal notes and handwritten entries are translated or, where unreadable, expressly noted. Bilingua's court interpreters then attach the certified translation to a copy of the judgment and confirm it with their stamp and signature, so the court receives a complete, verifiable record of the source document.

Do I need an apostille on a power of attorney before it is translated?

It depends on the receiving country and institution. An apostille authenticates the public document itself, and where one is required it is usually obtained before translation so the certification can be translated too. Check the exact requirement with the notary or authority receiving the power of attorney. Bilingua then prepares the certified translation of the complete, finalised document.

Need a certified translation of legal instruments?

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Legal instruments.