The main arguments why translation agencies in Slovakia should not provide official translations (translations stamped with an official stamp.)
- Act on Court Translators and Interpreters (Act No. 382/2004 Coll.): This Act clearly defines who is entitled to carry out official translations. These are exclusively court translators who are registered in the list of the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic. Translation agencies, although they may employ or cooperate with translators, are not legally entitled to issue translations with an official stamp. The official stamp is the personal stamp of the court translator and is not transferable.
- Responsibility for the translation: the accuracy and completeness of the official translation shall be the direct and sole responsibility of the court translator who has drawn up the translation and stamped and endorsed it. If the translation is mediated by an agency, there is room for confusion as to the actual responsibility in the event of errors or mistakes.
- Transparency and direct contact: the client should be able to have direct contact with the court translator. Agencies often act as intermediaries, which can complicate communication, especially if additional information or clarifications on the translation are needed. Direct contact ensures greater transparency of the whole process.
- Ethical dimension: the intermediation of official translations by agencies may give the impression that the agency is an equal partner in the official translation process, when the only one authorised to do so is the court translator. This can lead to misleading clients.
- Financial aspects: agencies charge commissions for arranging the translation, which increases the final price for the client. The client should be able to order an official translation directly from the court translator at standard rates regulated by the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic.
- Protection of the court translator: Agencies should not abuse the position of court translators as their ‘subcontractors’ for official translations. A court translator is an independent entity which bears full legal responsibility for its work.
When ordering an official translation (a translation with the stamp of a court translator), it is crucial to note that the only one who is authorised to make such a translation and be fully responsible for it is a court translator registered in the list of the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic. Its stamp and endorsement guarantee the legal validity and accuracy of the translation.
Although many translation agencies offer to arrange official translations, it is important to know that they are not themselves authorised to issue translations with an official stamp. They only act as intermediaries between you and the court translator.
† Peter Gomolčák, fighter against the situation on the ‘market’ for official translations and founder of the portal uradnypreklad.com, where everyone can find and contact their official translator directly, without intermediation.
For your reassurance and to ensure maximum transparency and minimize costs, we recommend:
- Prefer direct contact with a court translator: If possible, find a court translator for the language directly and ask for an official translation. A complete list of court translators is publicly available on the website of the Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic, or search for a translator according to your needs in this directory, where translators are categorised by the languages they work with.
- Always make sure who is doing the translation and who is responsible for it: make sure that the translation is stamped and signed by the court translator before you pay for it.
- Check with the translator directly about the price and the deadline: This will avoid unnecessary intermediary fees and ensure a fair price.
We hope this information will assist you in making the right choice and securing a high quality and legally valid official translation for your needs.