Contract Types and Their Translation Specifics
Each contract type has established terminology and structure. A translator needs expertise not only in the language but also in the subject matter:
- Sale and Purchase Agreement — product description, delivery terms (Incoterms 2020), payment procedures, claims
- Service Agreement — SLA, KPI, acceptance procedures, liability
- License Agreement — scope of rights, territory, sublicensing, royalties
- Employment Contract — differences in labor laws across countries, compensation, leave periods
- Lease Agreement — property description, termination conditions, encumbrances
For each type, we maintain templates and terminology databases accumulated over 13 years. This reduces turnaround times and minimizes terminology errors.
Terminology Pitfalls: What to Check in the Translation
When you receive the finished translation, pay attention to the following:
Term consistency. The same term must be translated identically throughout the document. If Section 1 says "Buyer" and Section 5 suddenly says "Purchaser" — that is an error. In our projects, consistency is enforced by a CAT system through a terminology database.
Numerical data. Amounts, percentages, deadlines, clause numbers — everything must match the original. Automated QA checks in SDL Trados detect discrepancies between the source and translation.
Legislative references. "Civil Code of the Russian Federation" is the established translation — not "Civil Code of Russia." Legal names have standard translations, and deviations create confusion.
Clauses and conditions. "Subject to," "except for," "notwithstanding" — these constructions cannot be omitted or paraphrased. Each one changes the scope of obligations.
When Notarization Is Required
Notarized translation of a contract is required in several situations:
- Submission to court (Russian or international arbitration)
- Registration with government agencies (property registry, tax authority, customs)
- Submission to a bank for currency control
- Counterparty or their lawyers require it
Cost of contract translation with notarization starts at 1,000 RUB per page. The notary certifies the translator's signature, confirming their qualifications. We work with notaries via power of attorney — the client does not need to visit in person.
NDA and Confidentiality
Contracts often contain trade secrets: deal amounts, delivery terms, know-how. We sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) at the client's request — free of charge. All translators working on the project also sign individual NDAs.
Files are stored on a secure server with access limited to project participants. After project completion, materials are stored for 1 year (for possible revisions), then deleted at the client's request.
How to Place an Order Correctly: Checklist
- Send the complete document — not excerpts. Context affects terminology choices.
- Specify the translation purpose — for court, for review, for signing. This determines the level of formatting.
- Provide a glossary — if your company has approved terminology.
- Communicate deadlines — standard turnaround is 3–5 business days. Urgent translation (1–2 days) carries a ×1.5 surcharge.
- Clarify the format — do you need a "mirror" layout (original + translation side by side)?
Pricing and Timelines
The cost of contract translation depends on the language pair, complexity, and urgency:
- English / German / French — from 900 RUB per page
- Chinese / Japanese / Korean — from 1,600 RUB per page
- Rare languages (Hindi, Arabic, Farsi) — from 1,800 RUB per page
- Notarization — from 1,000 RUB per document
Volume is calculated based on the translated text: 1 page = 1,800 characters with spaces. We work under contract, on a simplified tax system (no VAT). We provide a full set of closing documents. Legal translation has been one of our core specializations since 2013.
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