Translating legal documents isn’t just about converting words—it’s about preserving precision, context, and legal validity. Using the right terms helps readers understand nuances and maintains the original intent. Here are the top legal translation terminologies you need for clear, accurate work.
Accuracy & Clarity: One wrong term can change a document’s meaning.
Trust & Reputation: Clear translations build client confidence in your firm.
Legal Validity: Courts and authorities accept only properly translated terms.
Affidavit
A written statement sworn under oath, used as evidence in court.
Actus Reus
Latin for “guilty act”—the physical action that constitutes a crime.
Tort
A civil wrong (like negligence) causing injury or property damage.
Jurisprudence
The study or philosophy of law, common in academic texts.
Litigation
The legal process of resolving disputes in civil court.
Injunction
A court order requiring someone to do—or stop doing—something.
Indemnify
To compensate for loss or damage, often via insurance.
Bringing Suit
Initiating legal proceedings or filing a lawsuit.
Criminal Law
The branch of law that punishes offenses against the state.
Civil Case
A dispute between private parties resolved in civil court.
Higher Court
A court with authority to review decisions of lower courts.
Open Court
Public court proceedings accessible to media and general public.
Counterclaim
A defendant’s claim against a plaintiff within the same lawsuit.
Conservator
A court-appointed person to manage another’s affairs due to incapacity.
Remand
Sending a case back from a higher court to a lower court for further action.
Maintain Consistency: Use the same legal term uniformly.
Verify Context: Check local laws—terms may differ by jurisdiction.
Consult Experts: When in doubt, review with a legal professional.
An affidavit is a written statement sworn under oath before a legal authority, while a declaration may be an unsworn statement. In translation, using the correct term ensures the document meets court requirements.
Terms like actus reus carry precise legal meaning in common-law systems. Translators often retain such Latin phrases to preserve technical accuracy and avoid misinterpretation.
Always refer to your target jurisdiction’s legal dictionary or consult a local legal expert. The translated term must reflect whether it’s a prohibitory injunction (to stop an act) or a mandatory injunction (to compel an act).
Not always. Litigation refers broadly to the process of taking legal action, while lawsuit is the individual case filed in court. Use “litigation” for procedural contexts and “lawsuit” for specific case references.
When in doubt, consult:
A bilingual legal glossary
A certified legal translator like those at Index Legal Translation
A subject-matter expert (e.g., attorney or notary)
At Index Legal Translation, our certified translators handle thousands of legal documents with precision and confidentiality. We ensure every term is accurate, so your documents are legally sound and easily understood.
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