Published: 17 September 2026 · Reading time approximately 8 minutes
Contracts and powers of attorney are the document types whose translation allows the least tolerance. A title deed transaction, a company transfer or a lawsuit proceeds according to the limit of the authority written in the text. If the translation widens or narrows that limit, the document is either rejected or grants an authority beyond its purpose.
The scope of authority in a power of attorney is carried over exactly
A power of attorney lists the powers one by one: sale, creation of a mortgage, bringing an action, settlement, waiver, arbitration. A power that is not on that list cannot be exercised. Omitting a power in the translation stops the transaction; adding one that is not there produces a document that does not reflect reality. This is why we work through the list of powers item by item.
Party names, titles and addresses
Personal and company names are not translated; they are carried over exactly as spelled in the passport or the registry record. A single letter's difference between the spelling of a name and the passport is the most common reason a file is sent back in land registry and notary transactions. We carry out this comparison before the translation begins.
Term choice: similar in appearance, not the same in substance
Legal terms that look close to one another may differ in scope; termination and annulment, withdrawal and rescission, security and surety are not the same thing. There are also concepts that have no exact counterpart in the legal system of the source text. In such places, rather than forcing a term, we use the closest available equivalent and add a translator's note where necessary.
Numbers, dates and currencies
Amount and date formats in contracts vary from country to country; when the decimal separator or the order of the date elements is confused, the meaning changes. Where amounts appear both in figures and in words, we also check that the two agree. Currency abbreviations are never translated; they are kept as they are.
Notarial certification and foreign powers of attorney
Translations to be submitted to public authorities and to the courts require notarial certification. If a power of attorney drawn up abroad is to be used in Türkiye, the chain is longer: the document is apostilled in its own country or certified at a Turkish mission, then a sworn translation is made in Türkiye and certified by a notary public.
Court documents and judicial interpreting
In litigation files, the translation of documents such as petitions, expert reports and interim decisions is subject to tight deadlines. If a party does not speak Turkish, an interpreter must be present at the hearing; we provide the written translation and the attendance at the hearing from the same office.
We say this at the outset: we handle the translation of the document and the official certification chain; legal representation in the case itself is a separate specialism.
Confidentiality
Contracts carry commercial terms, contractual positions and personal data. During the translation process the documents are handled on a confidential basis and are not used outside the matter at hand.
Legal basis
The translation and certification provisions of Notary Law No. 1512; the provisions of the Turkish Code of Obligations No. 6098 on representation and agency; and, for documents drawn up abroad, the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.
Legislation and administrative practice may change. The information on this page is for general guidance only; an assessment specific to your case requires a consultation.