Legal and sworn translations


 

As a translator specialised in legal and technical subjects, Francis Auquier meets your translation needs from English and German into French with efficiency and reliability, both in terms of quality and on-time delivery.

He will be able to handle the documents for which you would like to have a professional translation in French or which you are required to produce in French as certified translations for legal or administrative purposes: birth certificates, certificates of residence, certificates of no-impediment, marriage licences and certificates, pension forms, judicial decisions, as well as law texts, diplomas, examination results and other acts and statements.

With 30 years' experience, and as a sworn translator registered with the Court of first instance of Brussels in 1994, Francis Auquier continuously strives to develop his expertise and qualifications to better serve individuals, companies and public services alike, paying always special attention to assignments he takes on.

For the ministry of Justice
Judicial documents, files and expert reports as part of the mutual assistance in criminal matters for Belgian judicial authorities
Foreign laws, civil law judgements, also in judicial aid and legal assistance

For individuals
Legal documents, official acts, certificates, judgements
Law texts (filial relationship, marriage)
Diplomas, examination results, lists of courses and subjects

For companies
Agreements, contracts, statutes, articles of association
Legal notices, terms and conditions, terms of use
Company rules
Safety regulations
Personal data protection policies (GDPR) and transparency statements


Sworn translations and legalisation:

Certified or sworn translations are translations made by a sworn translator (certified translator). They must fulfil a number of conditions in terms of form, notably as regards legal statements and the signature of the sworn translator.
The legalisation step ensures that the translator’s signature is genuine and matches the one registered with the national register of sworn translators and interpreters.

On the 1st of January 2020, in Brussels, the legalisation process was taken over by the relevant service of the national register of sworn translators and interpreters.
The legalisation service of the French-speaking Court of first instance of Brussels has been put to an end.
Since the 1st of January 2021, the legalisation service of the national register of sworn translators and interpreters is in charge of the legalisation process for sworn translations from all Belgian judicial districts.

Between the 1st of March 2021 and the 30th of November 2022, sworn translators who had received an official stamp from the judicial authorities did not need to submit their sworn translations to the legalisation service any more. The official stamp that was valid until the 30th of November 2022 did confirm the validity of the sworn translator’s signature as a means of legalisation.

Since the 1st of December 2022, the legalisation process is electronic, and sworn translators legalise their sworn translations by signing them with a digital signature.
The digital signature of the PDF document is the official means of legalisation.
In order to have a sworn translation that is valid on paper, the digitally signed PDF document is printed and signed anew by the sworn translator, by hand.
There is no official stamp any more, but the sworn translator may affix a personal stamp, if need be.

The identity of the sworn translator who signed a sworn translation with the new, electronic legalisation process can be verified and confirmed by checking the national register of sworn translators and interpreters: FPS Justice: search for a translator/interpreter by language, name or VTI number.


More information on the national register:
FPS Justice : national register

Address: boulevard de Waterloo 80, 1000 Brussels, Belgium

More information on legalisation:
FPS Justice : national register

Notice from Brulocalis, the association of the city and communes of Brussels (30 November 2022):
Sworn translators and interpreters will soon be allowed to digitally sign sworn translations

Information from the European e-Justice portal, all EU countries:
European e-Justice: Find a legal translator or an interpreter

Information from the European e-Justice portal, Belgium:
European e-Justice: Find a legal translator or an interpreter - Belgium


Other useful information and lists of Belgian sworn translators:

Portal for Belgian sworn translators

Traducteur juré belge — Find a sworn translator in Belgium


Belgian Chamber of Translators and Interpreters

Belgian Chamber of Translators and Interpreters — Directory of translators and Interpreters