Will Translation UK - Foreign Wills Ready for Probate and Estates
When someone you love leaves a will written in another language, the estate cannot be settled until it can be read in English. Our will translation service turns every clause, gift and name into English, so the probate work can move forward.
Each certified translation of a foreign will is signed by a qualified legal translator. It keeps the layout, witness details and seals of the original, so solicitors, banks and the Probate Registry can check it line by line.
Dealing With a Will From Abroad? Price Its Translation
Probate Offices, Banks and Solicitors Who Read Translated Wills
Several people usually read a will before an estate is settled. Estate document translation sits within our certified legal document translation work, with each copy set out so every reader finds what they need.
Not sure who needs the will? Tell us about the estate, and we will prepare the translation to suit.
Inheriting Across Borders: When a Last Will Needs Translating
Families today often live in more than one country. These are the times they most often ask for probate document translation.
A Relative Died Abroad With UK Assets
Money or property in the UK cannot be passed on until the will is read in English.
Inheriting a UK Home Left by Will
The will shows who now owns the home, so it must be clear to the registry.
Releasing Money From a UK Bank
Banks ask to see the will before they pay out to the family.
Proving the Death as Well
The estate also needs proof of death, which death record translation provides in English.
Your UK Will Must Work Abroad
If you own a home overseas, your English will may need translating into that language.
Contesting or Defending a Will
In a dispute, the court and both sides need an exact English copy.
Working Out Inheritance Tax
HMRC and your tax adviser need to see what was left and to whom.
Family Members in Other Countries
Relatives abroad may need an English will translated so they can understand it.
More Than One Will in Different Countries
Each will must be read to see which assets it covers.
Wills, Codicils and Estate Papers We Translate for Executors
Our inheritance document translation covers the will itself and the papers that usually go with it.
Last Wills & Testaments
Typed wills, with every gift, name and clause in full.
Codicils
Later changes or additions made to a will.
Handwritten Wills
Wills written by hand, with any unclear words clearly marked.
Foreign Grants & Certificates
Papers from a court abroad showing who can deal with the estate.
Declarations of Heirs
Who inherits where there is no will, handled through declaration of heirs translation.
Estate Inventories
Lists of property, money and debts left by the person who died.
Proof of Relationship
Birth and marriage records showing how heirs are related.
Bank & Asset Statements
Balances and holdings that form part of the estate.
Property Papers
Title and sale papers for homes left in the will.
Mistakes in Translated Testaments That Can Stall Probate
A translated will is read closely by everyone involved. Small mistakes can lead to questions, delays and sometimes disputes.
Beneficiary Names Spelt Wrongly
If a name does not match ID papers, the bank or registry may stop and ask.
Witness and Signing Details Missing
Who signed and who watched them sign helps show the will is valid.
Handwritten Changes Ignored
Crossed-out words and initials in the margin can change the meaning.
Inheritance Terms Mistranslated
Some countries have inheritance rules with no UK match. They need a clear note.
Shares and Amounts Unclear
Fractions, percentages and sums must match the original exactly.
Wrong Date on the Will
The date shows which will is the latest, so it must be exact.
Why Accuracy Matters Here
A will decides who receives what. A small error can hold up the grant of probate, delay payments to the family, or lead to a disagreement.
will counts
family records
How We Check Every Will
We match names to ID papers, include witness and signing details, show every handwritten change, explain legal terms, check each share and amount, and copy the date exactly.
Estate waiting on the will?
Scan every page of the will and codicils, and we will confirm the fee and timing before any work begins.
Why Executors Rely on Our Certified Will Translators
We know this is often a hard time, so translating a will with us stays simple, careful and discreet.
Every Gift · Every Name · Every Signature
Your translation follows the same clause order as the original, so a solicitor can compare the two side by side and find any gift quickly.
Names Match Family Records
Send ID papers and we will match every spelling.
Crossings and Initials Shown
Any handwritten change is shown, not skipped.
Shares Kept Exact
Fractions, sums and percentages match the original.
Legal Terms Explained
Foreign inheritance terms get a short, clear note.
Sensitive Handling
Your family papers are only seen by the people working on them.
Free Corrections
Any slip on our side is corrected and resent without charge.
Several Executors or Heirs?
We can send copies to each of them. Add their email addresses when you order, and everyone receives the signed PDF at the same time.
Wills Written in Spanish, Polish, Urdu and Other Languages
Wherever it was written, a last will can be put into English by our linguists. These are the languages most common for estates here.
German, Arabic, Romanian and 30+ more languages are covered for wills too.
Translating a Loved One's Testament in Four Careful Steps
You keep the original will. A clear scan is enough to begin your testament translation.
Send a Clear Scan
Upload every page of the will, plus any codicils or later notes.
Receive a Fixed Price
One fee and a delivery date arrive by email, and we only start once you confirm.
Translate & Review
A legal translator works on the will, then a second linguist checks names, shares and dates.
Get Your Certified Copy
You receive a signed PDF, ready for your solicitor or the Probate Registry.
Executors and Families Review Our Probate Translation Service
What executors and families said after we translated wills and estate papers for probate.
"HMRC needed our Egyptian company's original formation documents translated properly before they would issue a new UK tax reference number for our business. The certified translation matched all the official..."
"Applying to a UK university required my original Korean academic transcripts translated to a very specific format their international admissions office had clearly outlined online. The finished translation matched their..."
"Satisfying the lender's standard identity and relationship verification checks before approval meant our joint UK mortgage required a certified translation of our original Polish marriage certificate. The mortgage lender accepted..."
"Adopting a child in the UK required submitting a translated Polish police report as part of the mandatory background checks required before approval could be granted. The adoption panel accepted..."
"Registering as a qualified nurse in the UK required my original Bulgarian nursing diploma translated to meet the professional body's very specific documentation standards for overseas applicants. The registration body..."
"The embassy required a translated criminal record certificate from Algeria before they would issue an official letter I needed for a separate UK application. Once I submitted the certified translation,..."
Cost of Translating a Will: Guide Prices by Length
These guide prices reflect typical will lengths; the fee for your translation is fixed once we see every page.
2–3 Days
24 Hours
Within hours
For example, a two-page Spanish will on standard delivery stays close to the starting price. A long handwritten Italian will with codicils, needed quickly, will cost more. VAT is included in each quote.
Probate Translation Questions Families Ask Before Sending a Will
Short answers to what executors ask before sending a will for translation into English.
The Probate Registry needs an English translation of any will in another language. A certified translation is often enough, but in some cases a notarised one is asked for. Your solicitor can confirm this for your case.
Yes, in most cases. The registry and the bank will want to read every clause, not only the parts about the UK.
Yes. Having the translation ready early means your application can be sent without waiting.
No. We translate what the will says, but we do not give legal advice. A solicitor can tell you if it is valid in the UK.
They may be able to appoint someone to act here, and attorney document translation makes the papers they sign abroad readable for UK banks and solicitors.
A short typed will is usually ready in two to three working days. Faster delivery is available if the estate has a deadline.
Only the translator and checker working on your order. Files can be deleted once you have your copy.
Move the Estate Forward With a Certified Testament Translation
Upload a clear scan of the will and any codicils today, and we will plan delivery around your solicitor's probate timetable.