16 April 2024
Quick answer
Will translation is a high-risk legal translation task because names, beneficiaries, assets, executors, guardianship provisions and legal effects must be reproduced accurately. Translation is separate from drafting, legal advice and registration. The applicable court or wills service should be checked before translation; DIFC Courts, for example, publishes specific arrangements concerning language and Will registration.
When a Will May Need Translation
- Will registration or related administrative procedures
- Probate or inheritance proceedings
- Cross-border estates involving assets in more than one country
- Communication with banks, courts, registries or professional advisers
- Supporting documents issued in a different language
Information Requiring Particular Care
- Full legal names and identification details
- Executor and beneficiary descriptions
- Asset descriptions and property references
- Shares, percentages and monetary amounts
- Guardianship provisions where present
- Dates, signatures, witnesses and notarisation details
- Defined legal terms and cross-references between clauses
Translation Is Not Will Drafting
Translation reproduces the content of an existing will in another language. Drafting or advising on the legal effect of a will is a separate legal service. Clients should obtain appropriate legal advice about the form, jurisdiction, registration and enforceability of the will.
Supporting Estate Documents
A will translation project may also involve death certificates, marriage or birth certificates, title deeds, bank records, powers of attorney, court documents and other evidence. Consistent spelling across the complete file can reduce avoidable discrepancies.
High-Risk Details to Check Before Translation
Names of testators, executors, guardians and beneficiaries should match identification documents. Asset descriptions, company names, property references, percentages and conditional gifts should be checked carefully because small inconsistencies can materially change meaning or create avoidable questions during registration or probate.
Why Will Translation Requires More Than Literal Accuracy
A will can contain dispositive language, conditions, substitute beneficiaries, guardianship provisions, executor powers and asset descriptions. The translation should remain faithful to the source while preserving the legal function of each clause and keeping names, relationships and defined terms consistent.
Information to Provide With the Will
- The complete will, including schedules and annexes
- Passport spelling for the testator and named beneficiaries
- Any existing bilingual version or terminology required by the lawyer or registration forum
- The intended authority or forum and required language pair
Translation Is Not Will Drafting
Petra Legal Translation can translate the document supplied and coordinate terminology with the client or legal adviser. Questions about validity, succession rights, choice of law, registration forum or the legal effect of a clause should be addressed by a qualified lawyer or the relevant wills service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a will be translated from English into Arabic?
Yes. The appropriate certification depends on where the Arabic translation will be submitted.
Should names be translated or transliterated?
Personal names should normally be matched to passports, Emirates IDs or existing official records wherever possible.
Does PLT decide whether the will is legally valid?
No. PLT translates the document. Questions about validity, registration or legal effect should be addressed to the relevant authority or legal adviser.
PLT quality review before delivery
- Party names and procedural capacities
- Court, case, notice or reference numbers
- Dates, deadlines, monetary amounts and operative wording
- Exhibits, stamps, signatures and cross-references
- Consistent legal terminology across the full case or notice bundle
How Petra Legal Translation Can Help
For a project-specific quotation, send PLT the complete notice, pleading, order, chat record or evidence bundle to be translated, together with the case/reference number where applicable, target language, intended court/authority and deadline. We will scope the translation without altering the legal substance of the source.
Important Note
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Government, court, notarial, immigration and institutional requirements may change. Confirm current requirements with the receiving authority or a qualified adviser before submission.