rates

Fees for personal legal documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and divorce decrees are very reasonable, 13¢ per word, and an accompanying letter of certification and document description is available for an additional set charge of $30. You can contact me directly at austintrans@comcast.net.

Translation agencies, law firms, and other companies will be invoiced when the product is shipped. Individuals are asked to remit payment in advance along with their documents either by check, money order, or PayPal.

turn-around

My normal turn-around is four to five working days. Rush translations of two working days are available at an additional charge.

certified translation

What is an ATA-certified translator?

The American Translators Association is the only certifying organization in the U.S., and the only widely recognized measure of competence in the profession. Certification is gained through examination.

To find an certified translator near you, go to the ATA site at atanet.org and do a simple search: First specify that you are searching for a certified translator. Then specify Spanish to English for the language and law (general) as the area of specialization.

Do I need a certified translator?

An ATA-certified translator may cost slightly more, but it can make the difference in whether your document will be accepted by governmental or judicial entities. Your attorney or the office to which you plan to submit the document can best advise you as to whether you need an certified translation.

frequently asked questions

Should I send the original document to the translator?
Most translators will state in their accompanying certification of translation that they have seen and worked either from original document or from a copy. Your attorney can tell you whether it is advisable for you to send the original. If you do send an original, you should take appropriate precautions in mailing it and in arranging for its return.

Do you use machine translation?
No. Machine translation holds promise for the future, but can currently only provide rough approximations of content. A much higher standard is required for legal documents.

Does a translator's country of residence matter?
You may want to consider before using a translator not located in your own country if (1) you must mail the original document to the translator for verification; or if  (2) you need quick access to the original translation rather than to fax or e-mail copy. There are ATA-certified translators living abroad in a number of Spanish-speaking countries, and you can find one easily by performing a search as described above.

credentials:

30 years experience as an ATA-certified translator

Ph.D. in Spanish

Professor Emerita of Spanish

courses at both the graduate and the undergraduate level in Spanish-to English translation taught at

The University of Southern Mississippi

The University of Exeter (England)

translator from the Spanish of four novels by Pérez Galdós

The Shadow, Ohio University Press, 1980, 58 pp

Angel Guerra, Edwin Mellen Press, 1990, 708 pp

The Unknown, Edwin Mellen Press, 1992, 250 pp

Reality, Edwin Mellen Press, 1992, 250 pp

papers presented at professional conferences in the US, the UK, and Mexico on Spanish-to-English translation difficulties