Going to File a Translated Document Before a Dominican Court? Demand a Certified Judicial Interpreter

A foreign investor arrives to sign a contract in Santo Domingo with a translation done by a bilingual friend. The notary, or the court, rejects it. This is not capricious bureaucracy: in the Dominican Republic, certain documents and certain proceedings require the involvement of a formally designated judicial interpreter, and not just any person who speaks two languages may perform that role before the justice system.

The judicial interpreter is an officer of the court: an official empowered by the State to translate and interpret between Spanish, the official language, and another language, during hearings, statements, or judicial investigations. He or she may also certify translations of documents intended for courts and administrative agencies, in matters as diverse as civil, commercial, family, real estate, criminal, or tax law.

In 2014, through Resolution 13-2014, the Council of the Judicial Power (Consejo del Poder Judicial) designated 115 new judicial interpreters in various languages. To obtain that appointment, mastering the language is not enough: the candidate must pass the examinations of the National School of the Judiciary (Escuela Nacional de la Judicatura). Once obtained, the appointment is for life and applies throughout the national territory.

Why this matters beyond the courtroom

The most common mistake among foreign clients does not occur in litigation, but before it: they present to a Dominican registry, bank, or notary a translation done in their country of origin, without certification by a local judicial interpreter, assuming that a foreign sworn translation will be accepted just the same. It is not always so. And when the document also requires legalization or an apostille, both procedures, the authentication of the original document and the certified translation, must be coordinated, not treated as independent steps.

Two partners of our firm, Dra. Maria Arthur and Dr. Felipe Castillo, are designated as judicial interpreters of the English language by the Council of the Judicial Power, with a lifetime appointment for the entire Dominican territory.

Before filing any translated document before a Dominican authority, confirm that whoever translated it holds a current appointment as a judicial interpreter. We can certify the translation and, if the case requires it, represent you at the corresponding hearing.

Do you want more information about our Judicial Interpreter Translation services in the Dominican Republic? Contact Us.

Disclaimer: This publication is not intended to provide advice or suggest a guaranteed outcome as individual situations will differ and the situation may have changed since publication. For specific advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.

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