HMCTS (His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service) has specific requirements for translated documents submitted in UK court proceedings. This guide explains what HMCTS expects from certified translations and how to ensure your documents meet these requirements.
HMCTS Practice Directions on Translation
Civil procedure rules and practice directions govern the use of translated documents in UK civil courts. The key requirements are:
- Every foreign-language document relied upon must be accompanied by a certified translation
- The translation must be filed and served alongside the original document
- The certification statement must confirm the accuracy and completeness of the translation and identify the translator
Different courts and tribunals may have additional specific requirements — always check the relevant practice direction for the court or tribunal you are appearing in.
The Certification Statement for Court Use
For HMCTS purposes, the certification statement should include:
- The translator’s full name
- The translator’s qualifications or professional memberships (if any)
- A statement that the translation is true and accurate
- The source language and document type
- The date of translation and the translator’s signature
Immigration and Asylum Chamber
The First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) has specific requirements for translated documents submitted with asylum claims and immigration appeals. These include requirements about bundle preparation and the pagination of translated documents alongside originals. See our guide on immigration tribunal translation requirements for full details.
Common Issues With Court Translations
Translations are sometimes rejected or questioned in court proceedings for the following reasons:
- Incomplete translation (parts of the original not translated)
- Inadequate certification statement
- Obvious mistranslation of key legal terms
- Machine translation submitted without human review
Our legal translation service avoids these issues: we use specialist legal translators, translate every element of the original, and provide a compliant certification statement.
