Interpreting at the Notary’s Office: When Understanding Becomes a Legal Requirement

Notarial appointments: Why interpreting is particularly sensitive in this context

When a real estate purchase agreement is notarized, the issue is not merely “understanding” in a general sense. It involves:

• legally binding declarations;
• substantial financial obligations;
• land register, closing, and financing matters; and
• often considerable time pressure, such as financing deadlines, transfer of possession, international travel, or powers of attorney.

In this setting, it is not enough for someone to “translate a little.” What is needed is professional oral language transfer that:

• accurately reflects the legal logic of the document;
• uses terminology consistently;
• understands the procedure of a notarial appointment; and
• communicates clearly in both directions — without interpretation, embellishment, or softening.

In practice, the challenge is often not a single sentence, but the combination of legal language, pace, liability, and the emotional significance of the appointment.

Legal framework: When is an interpreter required?

If, according to the party’s own statement or in the notary’s judgment, a party does not have sufficient command of the German language, Section 16 of the German Notarization Act (Beurkundungsgesetz, BeurkG) requires that a sworn interpreter be involved, unless the notary provides the translation or interpretation personally.

This means that interpreting in notarial practice is not merely a “service.” It is part of conducting a notarization in a legally secure manner.

For notaries, one thing matters above all: reliability. Not only linguistically, but also procedurally.

What buyers and sellers should know

For the parties involved, a notarial appointment is often a one-time event — and at the same time one of the most important legal transactions of their lives.

Many international buyers or sellers underestimate:

• that the agreement is read aloud in full;
• that questions may and should be asked at any time;
• that individual clauses, such as transfer of possession and benefits and burdens, warranty, rescission, or powers of attorney, can have major consequences; and
• that misunderstandings during the appointment cannot simply be “corrected” afterward.

A professional interpreter creates clarity and reassurance because all parties truly understand what they are deciding.

And ultimately, that is the decisive point: a notarial appointment should not only be formally correct — its substance must also be understood.

Linguaforum: Interpreting for the legal sector — specialized and structured

To ensure that notarizations run smoothly and that all parties can genuinely follow the deed in the required foreign language, Christiane Starke and Linguaforum specialize in interpreting services for the legal sector.

We support you, among other things, with:

• notarial notarizations, particularly real estate purchase agreements;
• annual general meetings;
• supervisory board meetings;
• important client meetings and negotiations.

 -> In more than 30 business languages.

What matters to us when working with notaries and law firms:

• structured preparation;
• absolute punctuality;
• professional presence;
• discreet communication;
• legal confidence in terminology; and

• a clear understanding of roles: interpreting is not legal advice.

For professionals — by professionals
Interpreting is not translation

Interpreting must fundamentally be distinguished from the written translation of specialized texts:

Translation means the written transfer of text from one language into another.

Interpreting means the oral transfer of spoken language from one language into another.

Interpreting is used whenever it must be ensured that international listeners can follow a speech, presentation, business meeting, or notarial recording live, without delay, and with full substantive accuracy.

In notarial practice, this means that the interpreter helps ensure that the appointment is conducted securely not only from a language perspective, but also from a procedural perspective.