The Belgian notary is the guarantor of the regularity of the deeds they draw up. When foreign parties are involved or documents written in a foreign language must be incorporated into the file, the sworn translation becomes a legal obligation - and an urgency, since the date of the notarial appointment is often fixed in advance. Here are the most common situations and what you need to prepare.
See also: death certificate translation for inheritance in Belgium · company articles of association translation in Belgium
Notarial deeds that require a sworn translation
The Belgian notary is required, under the law of 16 March 1803 on the notarial profession (and its subsequent amendments), to ensure that all parties understand the scope of the deeds they sign. When a foreign document must serve as supporting evidence in a Belgian notarial deed, it must be translated by a certified sworn translator. The most common situations are:
- Property sale with foreign parties:a Moroccan, Turkish or Ukrainian buyer acquiring property in Belgium must produce translated identity and civil status documents. If the buyer is not French or Dutch-speaking, the notary must ensure informed consent, sometimes with an interpreter's assistance.
- International inheritance (EU Regulation 650/2012): when an estate involves heirs or assets abroad, the notary must gather foreign civil status documents (death certificate, birth certificates of heirs, marriage or divorce certificate). All these foreign documents must be translated by a sworn translator.
- Gift between parties of different nationalities: a movable or immovable gift involving a foreign donor or beneficiary requires verification of private international law rules (CODIP) and production of translated civil status documents.
- Company incorporation with foreign shareholders: when incorporating a Belgian SRL or SA with foreign shareholders, the instrumenting notary requires valid identity documents and, in certain cases, certified documents (foreign power of attorney, articles of a foreign associate company) translated.
- Power of attorney drawn up abroad: if a party grants power of attorney to a third party to represent them before the Belgian notary, and this power of attorney is written in a foreign language, the notary will require a sworn translation of this document.
The Belgian notary's liability and approved translators
The Belgian notary bears professional liability for the validity of the deeds they draw up. That is why they only accept translations produced by sworn translators recognised in Belgium - translators registered on the national list of sworn translators-interpreters (national register created by the law of 10 April 2014) or sworn before a Belgian Court of Appeal.
The Royal Federation of Belgian Notaries (Fednot)recommends that its members accept only translations from translators who can prove their oath in Belgium. A translation produced by a foreign translator (even if sworn in their country) or by an agency that cannot provide proof of the translator's oath in Belgium will be rejected.
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Sworn translators recognised by Belgian notaries. Civil status documents, powers of attorney, articles of association, delivery in 24 to 72 hours depending on urgency.
EU Regulation 650/2012 on inheritance: what the notary must verify
Since 17 August 2015, European Regulation 650/2012 harmonises the rules of international jurisdiction and applicable law for inheritances in the EU. The Belgian notary must now:
- Determine the law applicable to the inheritance (in principle, the law of the country of the deceased's habitual residence at the time of death)
- Verify the existence of a will or estate planning (succession agreement, foreign trust) that may modify the applicable law
- Gather and have translated all foreign civil status documents of the heirs and the deceased
- Where appropriate, issue a European Certificate of Succession (ECS) allowing heirs to exercise their rights in other member states
In this context, the quality and speed of translations are decisive in meeting estate settlement deadlines and avoiding delay costs.
Turnaround times and pricing
| Document / Service | Standard | Express |
|---|---|---|
| Civil status document for notary (birth, marriage, death) | 2-3 business days | 24h |
| Foreign power of attorney (1-2 pages) | 2-3 business days | 24h |
| Inheritance pack (death certificate + heirs' documents, 3-6 docs) | 4-5 business days | 48-72h |
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Sworn translations recognised by all Belgian notaries. Express service for urgent notarial appointments. Valid for inheritance, property sales and company incorporation.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can my notary contact your translator directly with questions?
Yes. In the context of complex inheritances or property sales involving foreign parties, our translator can liaise directly with the notary to clarify technical points (legal terminology, structure of a foreign deed, etc.). This direct collaboration is possible on explicit request from your notary.
Can a notary refuse a Belgian sworn translation?
In principle, no: a sworn translation by a certified translator registered on the Belgian national register is legally binding. If your notary expresses reservations, it is usually because they doubt the identity or sworn status of the translator. We systematically provide with each translation a certificate attesting to the translator's identity and oath, which removes any doubt.
How many days before the notarial appointment should I order the translation?
Ideally, order the translation 5 to 7 days before the date fixed with the notary. This gives you time to check the translation, have it validated by your notary and make any corrections. For urgent appointments (date fixed within 48 hours), our express service is available 7 days a week - contact us as soon as possible.
Do foreign documents need to be legalised/apostilled before being translated for a Belgian notary?
Yes, as a general rule. The Belgian notary requires foreign civil status documents to be authenticated (legalised or apostilled) before translation. A translation of a non-legalised document can technically be produced, but the notary may refuse to use it if the original is not authenticated. Always check legalisation requirements with your notary first.
Can I use the same translation for multiple notaries or multiple deeds?
Yes. The sworn translation of a civil status document (birth, marriage or death certificate) can be presented to multiple notaries, municipalities or different institutions. It is not "single use". However, if the original document has been modified (new marginal notes, apostille added), a new translation of the updated version will be required.
Notarial appointment coming up soon?
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