Certified French Translations

Why me?

Official document translations are my bread and butter. These are the documents I work on every day, more than 1500 of them over the last 5+ years. I am certified by the American Translators Association for translation from French into English, the only real certification available to translators in the United States. I have a meticulous eye for detail and will make the translated document look as close as possible to the original.

A little bit about me: I have a Bachelor’s degree in French from DePaul University, and I hold certificates in both Advanced Translation and Advanced Medical Writing and Editing from the University of Chicago. I have been certified by the ATA since 2015. I live in Chicago, Illinois, where I own a house and exactly the right number of cats.

How do I get my document to you? Do I have to mail it?

I don’t need the original documents in order to translate them, I just need a clear image of them. You can either scan them with a scanner and generate a PDF, or you can take a photo. Send the documents to me either using the form on this page or by emailing me directly at sam@frenchtranslation.expert.

How much will it cost?

Unfortunately, I won’t know until I see the document. Every job is unique: even if I’ve seen the same diploma a hundred times, the stamps may not be in exactly the same place or a signature might be missing, for example. I charge per page, and the per-page rate depends on how complicated the document is.

How do I pay you?

Payment is made by PayPal.com and should be made to sam@frenchtranslation.expert. I start translating once the payment is received.

Is my information safe?

I treat your documents like they are my own. I don’t share images or identifying information with anyone or anything. I destroy physical draft copies securely by shredding. Any electronic copies are kept encrypted and stored on my own devices.

What does a certified translation mean?

The United States has no federal standard for certifying translations or translators, unlike many European countries for example. In the absence of a governmental standard, the American Translators Association is the premier body that certifies translators in the country. I hold their certification for French into English translation.

There is no agreed-upon standard for what a “certified translation” means. I will issue a document bearing my certified translator seal that states that I am competent to translate the document and have translated it to the best of my abilities. This has been accepted by USCIS and other organizations without problem in the past.

What if I have special requirements?

Some institutions have specific language they need to be included in their certifications, or they require notarization, or they have other special requirements. I am happy to comply with whatever regulations govern the document you need to submit. Just let me know when you contact me so I can incorporate any differences into the quote.

What kinds of documents do you translate?

I have extensive experience translating the following kinds of documents:

Looking for something not listed above? I also work in international development and medicine. Fill out the contact form below and we can start a conversation.

I have translated documents from all of the following countries:

• Algeria

• Belgium

• Benin

• Burkina Faso

• Burundi

• Cameroon

• Canada

• Chad

• Côte d’Ivoire

• Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Djibouti

• France

• Gabon

• Guinea