Court-appointed expert
A certified translation accepted by every French authority
When a French prefecture, town hall, court, notary or university asks for a document “translated by a sworn translator”, only one kind of translation is admissible: one produced by a translator listed as a legal expert by a court of appeal. I am registered with the Riom Court of Appeal, and that status applies throughout France — nothing requires you to use a translator from your own region.
Every translation is produced by me personally, proofread, laid out to match the source document, then signed and sealed. You receive a digital version and, where your procedure requires it, paper copies by tracked or registered mail, in France or internationally.
Documents I translate most often
- Chinese driving licenceLicence exchange at the prefecture (ANTS). The most frequent request, turned around in a few days.
- Birth certificate — 出生证明Marriage, civil partnership, nationality application, civil status registration.
- Household register / hukou — 户口本Residence permit, family reunification, proof of family ties.
- Criminal record certificate — 无犯罪记录证明Naturalisation, employment, professional accreditation.
- Diplomas and academic transcriptsUniversity enrolment, Campus France, ENIC-NARIC statement of comparability.
- Certificate of celibacy / capacity to marryFrench-Chinese marriage file at the town hall or consulate.
- Judgments and court decisionsDivorce, child custody, adoption, investigation files.
- Notarial and corporate documentsArticles of association, powers of attorney, commercial contracts, company extracts.
- Medical records and certificatesMedical certificates, insurance statements, bank statements.
How an order works
- 1. Send your documents. A legible colour scan by email or through the contact form is enough in almost every case. Say which procedure it is for — that determines the required form of the translation.
- 2. Quote within 24 working hours. Based on the real page count, technical difficulty and your deadline. A firm price, not a vague estimate.
- 3. Written approval. The order takes effect once you confirm in writing. Changes to the source text after approval may lead to a revised quote.
- 4. Translation, proofreading, seal. Carried out entirely by me, with double proofreading and faithful layout.
- 5. Delivery. Signed digital version, plus posted hard copies if required, anywhere in the world.
- 6. Payment by bank transfer. Details appear on the quote and then the invoice.
Indicative pricing
€45 to €60 per standard source page of 250 words. Technical documents or those needing substantial layout work are quoted individually, and large volumes qualify for a reduced rate. Full details on the pricing page.
Before you order: legalisation or apostille?
A Chinese document destined for a French authority normally needs only a certified translation. A French document destined for China, however, often goes through an extra chain of authentication — legalisation by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and then the Chinese consulate, or an apostille since China joined the Hague Convention in November 2023. The order of the steps matters: translating before legalising is not the same as the reverse, and a mistake means starting the whole procedure again. Tell me the destination country and receiving body and I will set out the exact sequence before any work begins.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sworn translation, and when do French authorities require one?
A sworn translation (traduction assermentée, also called traduction certifiée) is produced by a translator listed as a legal expert by a French court of appeal, who adds their seal, signature and a unique registration number. French authorities require one whenever they ask for a document "translated by a sworn translator": prefectures, town halls, courts, notaries, universities, consulates and social security bodies. A translation produced by a non-sworn agency, or by yourself, will be rejected.
Is your seal valid throughout France?
Yes. A sworn translator is listed with one specific court of appeal, but the authority is national. A translation bearing my seal as an expert registered with the Riom Court of Appeal is accepted by every French administration, from Lille to Marseille, and by French consulates abroad. No rule requires you to use a translator based in your own department.
I live outside France. Can you still handle my documents?
Yes, and a large part of my work is remote. A legible colour scan sent by email is enough for the vast majority of French procedures. I return a signed and sealed PDF, and can post hard copies internationally by tracked or registered mail when your procedure requires the paper original.
How long does a certified translation take?
Allow 5 to 7 working days for a standard file of up to 4 pages, counted from the moment you approve the quote. An express service within 48 hours is available depending on my workload and the complexity of the document. The quote itself reaches you within 24 working hours of receiving your files.
Sworn, certified, notarised, legalised: what is the difference?
In France, "sworn" and "certified" translation mean exactly the same thing: a translation bearing the seal of a court-appointed expert translator. Notarised translation does not exist in French law; it is a concept imported from the Chinese system (公证处). Legalisation and apostille are separate later steps that authenticate a signature on a document destined for another country. They are obtained from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs or a court of appeal, never from the translator.
Will my translation be accepted in China?
For use in China an additional step is usually needed: legalisation by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and then the Chinese consulate, or an apostille since China joined the Hague Convention in November 2023. The order of the steps matters, and getting it wrong means starting over, so tell me the destination country and receiving body before I begin and I will map out the exact sequence.
How does payment work?
Payment is made by bank transfer, against the quote and then the invoice. No deposit is requested for standard private-client files. The order becomes effective once you have approved the quote in writing, by signature, email or message.
Are my documents kept confidential?
Without exception. As a court-appointed expert I am bound by professional secrecy. Your files are never passed to third parties, never outsourced and never used to train any automated tool. A non-disclosure agreement can be signed on request, which corporate clients often prefer.
Have your file checked free of charge
Send scans of your documents and tell me which procedure they are for. You receive a firm quote within 24 working hours, with the delivery date and format.