Notarized Translation Services

A certified translation carries the translator's signed statement that the work is complete and accurate. A notarized translation adds a notary public's confirmation of who signed that statement; the notary does not check the translation itself. Every Tomedes notarized translation includes both the certificate of accuracy and the notary attestation.

Not always. USCIS typically needs only a certified translation with a signed statement of accuracy. Notarization is more common for court filings, real estate transactions, some government submissions and documents used in international legal proceedings. Tomedes confirms what your receiving authority requires before quoting, so you pay only for what is needed.

No. 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) asks for a full English translation that a competent translator has certified as complete and accurate, and it does not mention notarization. Courts, state agencies and foreign governments may still require it, which Tomedes confirms before quoting.

Online. You do not need a local notary office: upload your documents, and Tomedes arranges the translator and a commissioned notary, then delivers a notarized PDF or sealed hard copies. Location matters less than the receiving authority's rules, which Tomedes checks with you first.

Often, yes. Many states allow remote online notarization, where the notary verifies your identity by video and signs electronically. Whether a receiving authority accepts an electronic notarization is its own decision, and some require wet-ink originals. Tomedes checks this before quoting and delivers either format.

A notary cannot notarize their own signature, so a notary who translated the document needs a different notary. If you translated it yourself, another notary can notarize your signature, but many authorities question self-translations. An independent translator is the safer route.

Translation starts from about $0.08 per word at Tomedes, so cost depends mainly on length, language pair and turnaround. The certificate of accuracy is included, notarization is a flat fee per document, and apostille coordination is priced by jurisdiction. Quotes arrive within 15 minutes.

Notarization confirms the identity of the person who signed the certificate of accuracy. An apostille is a government authentication, usually from the Secretary of State, that makes the notarized document valid in the 130 countries of the Hague Apostille Convention (HCCH, June 2026). You need one only when the translation will be used abroad. Tomedes coordinates both.

Standard documents of 1 to 3 pages are typically delivered within 24 to 48 hours, and notarization adds little time for digital copies. Hard copies need shipping time, and apostille processing adds 5 to 10 business days depending on jurisdiction. Rush and same-day options are available.

Generally yes: according to the National Notary Association, states recognize notarial acts performed by a commissioned notary in another state. The receiving agency still sets its own requirements, and documents used outside the United States may need an apostille. Tomedes coordinates apostille processing on request.