Is a certified death certificate translation required for probate or Social Security?+
Yes. US courts, the Social Security Administration, insurers and banks require a foreign-language death certificate to be accompanied by a complete English translation certified as accurate. A death certificate is documentary proof of death for every estate, benefit and insurance process, and an uncertified or self-made translation is rejected.
How much does certified death certificate translation cost?+
$29.95 per page (1 page = 300 source words). Most death certificates fit on a single page; certificates with a detailed medical cause-of-death statement may run to a second page. No surcharges for rarer languages.
How long does certified death certificate translation take?+
Standard turnaround is 24 hours for single-page documents, and most orders are delivered the same business day. For a court, insurance or benefits deadline, contact us about expedited and same-day service.
Is the cause of death translated accurately?+
Yes. The cause-of-death section uses clinical and often abbreviated medical terminology. Our translators render it precisely, preserving the exact wording of the attending physician or medical examiner, with a translator’s note where a term has no direct English equivalent. Nothing is paraphrased.
Do I need notarization or apostille for a death certificate translation?+
It depends on the receiving institution. USCIS and Social Security normally do not require notarization; some probate courts, banks and foreign authorities do. Notarization is $19.95 per order. An apostille ($149.95 per document) is normally required when the document will be used to settle an estate abroad in a Hague Convention country. Both are available as add-ons at checkout.
A US citizen died abroad – can you translate the foreign death certificate?+
Yes. When a US citizen dies overseas, the local authority issues a death certificate in the country’s language, and the US Department of State issues a Consular Report of Death Abroad. US estates, insurers and the SSA will need a certified English translation of the local certificate, which we provide alongside the original.
Can you translate a handwritten or older death certificate?+
Yes. We accept scans, photos and clear copies, and we regularly work with older handwritten civil-registry death records. Illegible sections are marked as [illegible] with translator notes where appropriate. If we cannot certify a portion, you’ll know before paying.
Simplified example, for illustrative purposes only. Your actual translation is individually tailored to your document, with full detail and certification.
