Sworn translation of powers of attorney and notarial deeds
A sworn translation of a notarial document — a power of attorney, a public deed, a notarial act or an attestation — is its official version in another language, signed and stamped by a sworn translator appointed by the MAEC. It is what notaries, registries and authorities require when the document must take effect in another country: granting authority to someone abroad, buying or selling with a foreign deed, incorporating companies. We translate into 39 languages, with legal precision and a fixed quote before we start.
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- Legal and notarial terminology
Notarial documents we translate
Everything that comes out of a notarial record — Spanish or foreign — passes through our hands. The four main groups:
General and special: for litigation, to sell or buy, for inheritances or to administer. The star document when you must act in a country without being there.
The most requestedSale and purchase, gift, incorporation of a company, prenuptial agreements or declaration of new works: the title foreign registries and banks require in translation.
Purchases and companiesOf presence, of statements, of public knowledge or of general meetings: they attest to facts, and that attestation must be understood in the language of the file where it is submitted.
Proof of factsCertified copies of documents and authentications of signatures: short pieces that accompany almost every international file — and among the most affordable translations.
Short and affordableCertified copy or plain copy: the difference that decides your procedure
Before translating, check which copy you are holding — because they are not worth the same:
signature and seal
Certified copy (copia autorizada)
Issued on stamped paper with the notary’s signature and seal. It has the force of a public document: it can be apostilled and it is what foreign registries, banks and authorities require. If your document is to take effect abroad, this is the one.
or seal
Plain copy (copia simple)
An informative reproduction, without the notary’s signature. Useful for reviewing the content or preparing the quote — you can send it to us for that — but it cannot be apostilled and official files rarely accept it.
The route of a Spanish notarial document going abroad. Certified copy → apostille at the Notarial College → sworn translation. That order matters: the apostille forms part of the document and is translated too. In the opposite direction, powers of attorney and deeds executed abroad arrive in Spain apostilled at origin and with a sworn translation. The official directory of notaries and Notarial Colleges is at the General Council of Notaries of Spain; the translation, with the exact terminology of notarial language, is ours to handle.
How we translate your notarial document
On the digitised copy, with deadlines coordinated with your notary or agency.
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Send your document
As a PDF or high-quality photo — the certified copy with its apostille if the destination requires it — via the quotation form, by email or on WhatsApp, stating the language and destination country.
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Receive your fixed quote
A fixed price per document and a deadline in writing. If there is a signing with a set date, say so: we organise the order to arrive first.
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Your translation, in la fecha acordada
You receive it as a digitally signed PDF — valid on any electronic filing platform — and, if you need it on paper, by courier or collected in Adeje, Seville or Málaga.
Why a sworn translation and not a standard one? Because notaries, registries and foreign authorities only accept translations bearing the signature, stamp and accreditation number of a sworn translator appointed by the MAEC. An ordinary translation, however accurate, has no official validity: the file is returned and the procedure starts over. Translations into English are signed by our in-house translator, appointed by the MAEC.
Frequently asked questions about translating notarial documents
How much does it cost to translate a power of attorney or a deed?
It depends on the length: a standard power of attorney takes up few pages, while a sale-and-purchase or incorporation deed runs long. The language and the complexity of the document also count, and you will always receive a fixed quote per document before deciding, with no obligation.
What is the notarial apostille and who issues it?
Spanish notarial documents are apostilled through the relevant Notarial College — not at the Ministry —, on the certified copy. The correct order is to apostille first and translate afterwards, so the apostille is translated as well. We can handle both in a single order.
Is a plain copy enough, or do I need the certified copy?
For the document to take effect abroad, the authority will normally require the certified copy — the one bearing the notary’s signature and seal — and, where applicable, apostilled. The plain copy serves for information, but it cannot be apostilled and is rarely accepted in official files. We translate the copy you are actually going to submit.
Do you translate powers of attorney executed abroad for use in Spain?
Yes, and it is the very frequent reverse case: a power of attorney executed before a foreign notary — or a consul — is submitted in Spain apostilled and with a sworn translation. If the country does not recognise the civil-law notary, a judgment of equivalence may be needed: your notary will tell you which format is required and we translate it exactly as it is.
Does the translated power of attorney expire?
The translation does not expire, and the power of attorney generally does not either — unless granted for a fixed term or revoked. That said, many authorities ask for recent powers (3-6 months) to be sure they are still in force. If yours is old, check with the destination first whether they will accept it.
In which format will I receive the translation?
As a digitally signed PDF from the sworn translator, with the same legal validity as paper, and optionally on paper by courier anywhere in Spain or collected at our offices in Adeje, Seville and Málaga.