Terms that do not exist in the other legal system

Legal systems do not map onto each other, so some terms have no exact equivalent. English trust, consideration or estoppel have no direct counterpart in Ukrainian law, and a Ukrainian 'act of completed works' has none in English.

A literal rendering in such places creates the false impression that the concepts match. The sound approach is to convey the meaning and, where needed, keep the original term in brackets so the lawyer on the other side sees what is meant.

This is why legal translation cannot be judged word by word. Accuracy here means accuracy of consequences, not of letters.

Which version prevails

A bilingual contract should state which version governs in case of discrepancy. It is one clause, and it settles a dispute before it arises.

Without it, each party will read its own version, and a translation difference becomes a legal problem rather than a linguistic one.

Tell us which version will govern. If it is the Ukrainian one, the translation works as a reference for your partner. If it is the foreign one, the accuracy requirements are entirely different, because that text defines your obligations.

Figures, names and bank details

The places where an error is most expensive and most visible:

  • Amounts and currencies. Decimal comma against point, thousands separators — conventions differ by country. We check these separately from the text.
  • Company names. Not translated but rendered as they appear in the register and constitutional documents. If you already have an established name in the other language, that is what we use.
  • Bank details, IBANs, codes. Never translated, only verified.
  • Dates. 03/04/2026 reads as 3 April or 4 March depending on the country. In contracts we write the month in words wherever possible.
  • Signatory titles. A Ukrainian 'director' and an English director do not always carry the same authority, and for a deed that can matter.

When certification is needed

For most commercial contracts an agency-sealed translation is enough: the parties understand the text and that is what they need.

Notarial certification is required when the contract goes to a state body, a court, a bank, or a notary for further action.

For use abroad the usual rules apply: the country may require its own sworn translator. Tell us where the contract is going and we will check before starting.