Any professional translators out there please?

[Schulte]

Need help with the following question.. I am translating a website for my brother's company, which includes a legal disclaimer (to cover website content). I am NOT a qualified translator - am I allowed to translate the disclaimer or will it be invalid if translated by an amateur? Any insight greatly appreciated!

I would find a similar site and copy what they say.

Yep thought I might do that... it's bound not to be exactly the same though so I'll have to edit. Any legal issues with that?

I'm a translator.

There is no such thing as a professionally qualified translator. There are various qualifications, but no specific membership of a body or anything which is required.

So anyone can translate, officially. The only means by which a translation wouldn't be valid is if it isn't right!

You can also specify that the source-language version of the text is the one that is legally binding in the event of disputes. Then you'r covered!

MMQC, thanks, that's a great idea. DH would make me believe I wasn't 'allowed' to translate that part of the website copy!

Actually.. when I got divorced and remarried, I had to get some papers translated by a certified translator - requirement of the German embassy - with official stamps and everything?

Aha, that'll be down to the German love of paperwork! They do have a system of certification for translators, but it has no real equivalent here.

The only translations I've ever come across which need to be certified are birth and marriage certificates, which they like to be translated by someone who is a member of a professional body. I've been translating for 13 years and translated all sorts of contracts, legal disclaimers, etc. and had no issues.

Thank you so much!