Legal Translation Services in Singapore
Specialist legal translators for contracts, court documents, corporate records and official papers. We provide certified, notarised and sworn translations in 100+ languages for law firms, corporates and individuals, aligned with Singapore and overseas legal requirements.
Legal translators, not generalists
Lawyers and legally trained linguists who understand Singapore context, legal terminology and court-style drafting.
Certified, notarised & sworn formats
Support for certified translations, notarisation, sworn translations, certified true copies and apostille-ready documents.
Singapore & cross-border matters
For use in Singapore courts and authorities, as well as in foreign courts, embassies, registries and regulators.
Discreet & compliant handling
Strict confidentiality for sensitive contracts, disputes, family matters and regulatory cases.
Get Your Free Quote
4.9/5 client rating
Legal translation projects
100+ languages
Asia, EU, Middle East & Americas
Singapore Law Society
Recognised vendors
ISO 17100 Certified
Translation quality standard
Why Legal Translation Is So Crucial in Singapore
Singapore is a regional hub for arbitration, litigation, cross-border transactions and corporate headquarters. Legal documents move between multiple languages and jurisdictions — English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil and many others. A mistranslated clause, date, number or legal concept can change risk allocation, enforceability or even the outcome of a case.
Who needs this?
- Law firms handling cross-border disputes and deals
- Companies with foreign shareholders, contracts or regulators
- Individuals with foreign court orders, divorce or custody papers
- Immigration and family matters involving foreign-language evidence
Where is it used?
- Singapore courts, tribunals and arbitration centres
- Regulators and government agencies
- Foreign courts, notaries, registries and embassies
- Banks, compliance teams and corporate secretaries
What can go wrong with weak legal translation
-
Misinterpreted contractual obligations or rights
-
Evidence rejected because translation is not properly certified or notarised
-
Regulatory filings delayed or refused due to wrong terminology
-
Family and immigration decisions affected by unclear judgments or orders
We treat every legal document as high-stakes, with processes designed to minimise these risks.
Legal Scenarios & Authorities Where Translation Is Needed
Different legal situations require different levels of formality and certification. We help you choose the correct path — certified, notarised, sworn or apostille-backed — so you are not over- or under-prepared.
Courts & disputes
Litigation, arbitration & enforcement
- Foreign judgments & orders submitted to Singapore courts
- Contracts, correspondence and evidence in another language
- Witness statements and affidavits translated for hearings
- Arbitration proceedings with multi-language documents
Corporate & regulatory
Transactions, governance & compliance
- Shareholders' agreements, SPAs and JV contracts
- Constitution, minutes, board resolutions and powers of attorney
- Regulatory filings and responses to authorities
- Policies, terms & conditions and internal compliance docs
Personal & family
Family, immigration & personal legal matters
- Marriage, divorce, adoption and custody orders
- Wills, inheritance and succession documents
- Police reports and criminal records for background checks
- Documents for visa, PR and citizenship processes
Typical authorities involved
- Singapore courts & tribunals
- Arbitration centres in Singapore
- Government agencies & regulators
- Banks & financial institutions
- Foreign courts & ministries
- Embassies, consulates & notaries abroad
- Corporate secretaries & professional firms
- Immigration & family-related authorities
Legal Document Types We Translate
From a single notarised power of attorney to full transaction document sets, we cover a wide range of Singapore and foreign legal materials.
Court & dispute documents
-
Statements of claim, defences and pleadings
-
Judgments, orders and awards
-
Affidavits, witness statements and declarations
-
Exhibits: emails, letters, reports and contracts
-
Settlement agreements and releases
Corporate & business documents
-
Shareholders' agreements and SPAs
-
Loan agreements and security documents
-
Constitutions, resolutions and minutes
-
Franchise, distribution and agency contracts
-
Policies, disclaimers, terms & conditions
Personal & official legal documents
-
Marriage, divorce and custody orders
-
Powers of attorney and declarations
-
Police reports and criminal records
-
Wills, grants of probate and letters of administration
-
Notarial deeds and statutory declarations
Types of legal translation services
Certified legal translations
For banks, professional firms and many authorities where a translator declaration is sufficient but format still matters.
- Translator's certificate & signature
- Clearly aligned with source document
- Electronic or printed copies as required
Notarised & sworn translations
For use in court proceedings, registries, embassies or foreign authorities where notarisation or sworn status is needed.
- Coordination with notary public in Singapore
- Sworn or court-ready translations where appropriate
- Certified true copies available
Apostille & legalisation support
For documents travelling between Singapore and countries that require further legalisation steps beyond notarisation.
- Guidance on whether apostille/legalisation is needed
- Translation formatted for subsequent steps
- Help with Singapore Academy of Law
Not every legal document needs notarisation or apostille. We help you choose the level that matches your authority's expectations, so you don't spend unnecessarily or submit something incomplete.
The Difference Between Basic and Legal-Specialist Translation
Many generic translation providers treat legal documents like ordinary text. We treat them as evidence and binding obligations.
Typical "normal" translation provider
What often goes wrong
-
Translates word-for-word, missing legal concepts and context.
-
Uses inconsistent terms for the same defined expression throughout a contract.
-
Changes formatting so clauses, schedules and exhibits are hard to follow.
-
Provides no proper translator declaration, making it unsuitable for courts or authorities.
-
Does not coordinate with notaries or advise on sworn/apostille needs.
Result: extra costs, delays, or documents rejected or challenged when they matter most.
Legal-specialist translation approach
What you get with a legal-focused provider
-
Translators familiar with contract structures, precedents and court-style language.
-
Consistent defined terms and careful handling of numbers, dates and amounts.
-
Layout kept close to the original so lawyers and judges can compare easily.
-
Certified translations with proper declarations and references to the original.
-
Guidance on whether notarisation, certified true copies or apostille are needed for your scenario.
Result: documents that can be relied on in negotiations, disputes, courts and regulatory processes.
Specialised Legal Translators, Notaries & Sworn Experts
We work with legal translation specialists and professional partners to cover all the expertise your matter may require.
Lead Legal Translation Specialist
Contract & litigation-focused translator
Oversees consistency of legal terminology and structure, especially in multi-document deals and disputes. Works closely with law firms and in-house counsel to align style with your practice preferences.
Notary Public Partner
For notarised translations & CTCs
Works with our team when notarisation or certified true copies are required. Ensures translations and originals are in the right format before appearing before the notary.
Sworn & Court-Focused Linguist
Disputes, evidence and hearings
Handles translations used directly in contentious matters, paying special attention to tone, nuance and how a judge or arbitrator may read the text.
Legal interpretation & support
Hearings, mediations, negotiations and board meetings
For hearings, mediations, negotiations and board meetings, we also offer legal interpretation (consecutive and, where appropriate, simultaneous) so participants can follow proceedings in their preferred language while keeping the legal intent intact.
How Our Legal Translation Process Works
We combine legal awareness with translation discipline, so your documents are clear and ready for the forum where they will be used.
Understanding your legal context
We ask which court, authority or counterparty will receive the documents and whether a lawyer is involved, so we can adapt tone and format.
Assigning a suitable legal linguist
A translator with relevant language and legal experience handles your matter, supported by reference materials where available.
Review, consistency & formatting
We check defined terms, cross-references, numbering, schedules and exhibits, and keep layout as close as practical to the original.
Certification, notarisation & delivery
We prepare the appropriate declarations and, where requested, coordinate notarisation or set up the translation for legalisation/apostille.
Sample Pricing for Legal Translation
Legal work varies widely in complexity. These guides help you budget; we'll confirm exact fees once we see your documents and purpose.
Individual legal documents
Court orders, declarations, POAs, police reports, etc.
- Certified translation included
- Standard turnaround 3–5 working days
- Fast options for urgent matters where feasible
Corporate & law-firm projects
Transactions, disputes, multi-document bundles
- Dedicated legal linguists and reviewers
- Glossary & style consistency across matters
- Single point of contact for ongoing engagement
Need notarisation, CTC or apostille as well?
Tell us where you will use the documents. We'll explain which steps are necessary and which are optional, so you can choose the most efficient route.
What Legal & Corporate Clients Say
A snapshot of how law firms, companies and individuals use our legal translation services.
Aisha Tan
PR Application • Chinese to English
Accepted by ICA without any issues
The translation matched my original Chinese birth certificate format perfectly. Fast turnaround and clear instructions.|Same-day (Urgent)|Certified + Notarised
Raj Kumar
Employment Pass • Tamil to English
Urgent same-day helped me meet deadline
Smooth process from start to finish. WhatsApp updates were quick and professional.|6 hours (Urgent)|Certified Translation
Mohammad Said
Student Pass • Arabic to English
Perfect for school registration
My son's Arabic birth certificate needed translation for MOE school registration.|24 hours (Standard)|Certified Translation
Frequently Asked Questions about Legal Translation
Helpful if you're not sure whether you need a simple certified translation or additional notarial and legalisation steps.
Do all legal documents need to be notarised or legalised?
No. Many situations only require a certified translation issued by a reputable provider. Notarisation, legalisation or apostille are usually needed when documents will be used in certain courts, registries, foreign authorities or where formal proof of authenticity is required. Tell us your exact use-case and we'll explain the likely expectations so you can choose the right level.
What is the difference between certified, notarised and sworn translation?
A certified translation includes a declaration from the translator or agency. Notarised translation involves a notary public confirming the identity and signature of the translator or certifying copies. Sworn translations are those made by translators recognised in certain jurisdictions for court or official use. Different countries and bodies use these terms differently, so we focus on what your specific authority actually requires.
When is an apostille or further legalisation needed?
Apostille/legalisation steps are usually required when a document issued in one country needs to be formally recognised in another country's legal system. These steps often come after notarisation. We ensure the translation and accompanying certificates are structured so they can be used in these processes without repeating work.
How do you ensure legal terminology is correctly translated?
We assign translators with legal background and experience, use glossaries where applicable, and run consistency checks on defined terms, clause numbering, references and boilerplate. Where needed, we take guidance from your legal team's preferred terminology.
Can you support long-term legal translation needs for our firm or company?
Yes. Many law firms and corporate legal departments work with us on an ongoing basis. We can set up preferred rates, dedicated teams and glossaries so each new matter benefits from familiarity with your documents and style.
Need Legal Translation Services in Singapore?
Share your documents and legal context. We'll respond with a clear plan, timeline and fee estimate — before any commitment is required.