FAQ topics
Legal document FAQs
Court judgments, divorce decrees, powers of attorney, inheritance certificates and contracts: what UK courts and solicitors need from a translation, what Turkish courts and notaries need, and how we handle terminology and finality annotations.
Legal documents carry the strictest requirements in both systems. In the UK, a translation for court must be certified and, for witness statements, the translator signs the original and certifies the translation under Practice Direction 32. Solicitors want terminology a court can act on and translator's notes where a Turkish concept has no English equivalent. In Türkiye, a UK court order, power of attorney or will must be apostilled by the FCDO and translated by a notary-sworn translator, and recognition of a UK judgment goes through Article 27/A registration or a tanıma/tenfiz action. The questions below cover the documents that come up most; the service page is legal translation and the court page is translations for the family court.
Frequently asked questions
What is a kesinleşme şerhi and why does it matter?
It is the court's annotation that a judgment has become final, with no appeal pending. UK courts, the Home Office and register offices want to see it on a Turkish divorce decree, because without it the divorce may not yet be effective. Ask the court for the decree with the şerh before ordering the translation. See Turkish divorce decree translation.
Will a UK court accept your translation of a Turkish judgment?
Our translation carries the certification the civil courts expect and translator's notes where needed. For witness statements Practice Direction 32 requires the translator to sign the original statement and certify the translation; we provide that on request, in hard copy if the court wants ink. Your solicitor should confirm any direction specific to the case.
Is a Turkish divorce recognised in the UK?
Recognition of overseas divorces is governed by the Family Law Act 1986; a Turkish court divorce with finality is generally recognised where the conditions are met. The translated decree with the kesinleşme şerhi is the evidence. Legal advice is for a solicitor; we supply the translation. See getting a Turkish divorce recognised in the UK.
How do I get a UK divorce recognised in Türkiye?
Since 2018, a final UK divorce can be registered at the consulate or nüfus müdürlüğü under Article 27/A on a joint application, with the apostilled final order and its Turkish translation. If the conditions are not met, a tanıma/tenfiz action in a Turkish court is needed. We produce the notarised Turkish translation of the apostilled order in Ankara.
What do I need for a power of attorney to be used in Türkiye?
Either sign it at the Turkish consulate's notary unit, or have a UK notary prepare it, get an FCDO apostille, and have it translated by a sworn translator and notarised in Türkiye, which we do in Ankara. Property transactions have extra rules (new-type kimlik kartı, witnesses and a sworn interpreter for non-Turkish speakers at the tapu office).
Do you notarise translations for use in the UK?
Only if a solicitor or institution specifically asks. UK public bodies and courts do not require notarised translations, and a notary certifies the signature rather than the accuracy of the translation. Where it is requested, the notarisation is done in Ankara and the Turkish notary's tariff is passed through at cost on the quote.
How do you translate Turkish legal terms that have no English equivalent?
With a descriptive equivalent, the Turkish term in brackets at first mention, and a numbered translator's note where the reader needs context. We do not import English institutions (no “decree absolute” for a Turkish decree). The style guide is at how we render Turkish legal terms in English.
Can you translate a long court file at a reasonable cost?
Yes. Court files are priced per 1,000-character page like everything else, and the economy tier suits files that are not urgent. Tell us which parts the solicitor needs; translating the judgment and specified exhibits with a clear statement of scope is common.
Do you handle inheritance (veraset) documents?
Yes, in both directions: a Turkish veraset ilamı for a UK probate or bank, and a UK death certificate, will or grant of probate (apostilled) for a Turkish inheritance court, translated and notarised in Ankara. See inheritance in Turkey for heirs in the UK.