In real estate transactions involving several jurisdictions, the translation of promises to sell is a crucial step. These contractual documents formalize a party's commitment to sell a property under precise conditions. Their legal value is strong, and their interpretation leaves no room for approximation.
Why translate a promise to sell in an international context??
Are you a lawyer, notary or in-house counsel involved in a property sale involving a foreign buyer or seller? You have no doubt been confronted with the need to provide a translated version of the document, sometimes as part of :
- a tax audit by a foreign tax authority ;
- registration with a notary's office outside France;
- or a dispute before an international court.
In all these cases, the promise to sell must be translated by a sworn translator, to guarantee its official value. Without this certified translation, the document may be considered null and void, or unenforceable.
Strong terminology requirements
The promise to sell is a precise legal document. It contains specific clauses, imperative deadlines, conditions precedent, and references to the Civil Code or other national legislation.
The translation of this document must :
- respect the terminology of real estate law in the two languages concerned;
- faithfully reflect the legal intent of the parties;
- ensure optimum legibility for the authorities or courts to which they are addressed.
A simple literal or automatic translation can introduce ambiguities with far-reaching consequences. This is why mastery of comparative law is essential.
Why use a specialized legal translator?
Translating a promise to sell is not a general matter. It requires :
- perfect knowledge of the legal systems involved;
- the ability to adapt concepts without distorting their meaning;
- and extreme rigor to guarantee the functional equivalence of the clauses.
This is where translators specializing in real estate law come in. At Legal 230, our sworn translators work exclusively on legal documents, with recognized expertise in complex real estate transactions, particularly across borders.
Case study: real estate sales in Spain
A Parisian law firm recently asked us to provide a sworn translation of a promise to sell for the purchase of a property in Barcelona. The document was to be submitted to a Spanish notary and used as the basis for a local loan application.
Without a sworn translation into Spanish that complied with local standards, the sale could not be registered. Thanks to the intervention of one of our legal translators with degrees in French and Spanish civil law, the translation was validated by the notary and enabled the transaction to be finalized on schedule.
In a nutshell
Translating promises of sale is a sensitive legal operation, and one that determines the validity of many international transactions. Entrusting this task to a sworn translator who is an expert in real estate law is essential to guarantee the legal security of your files.
Do you need a cross-border translation of a real estate document?
Call on Legal 230 for an accurate, sworn translation that meets the expectations of national and international authorities.