Frequently Asked Questions
Process
How long will it take to finish my translation?
It all depends on the length, quality, and complexity of the source text. When you contact us to receive a quote, be sure to upload the source file and provide clear instructions in the message box. We will revert with a quote that includes the estimated turnaround time.
I’d rather not upload my documents via the contact form. Can I email them instead?
Of course! Send a message to connect [@] legaltranslator.jp, and they will come straight to us without bypassing the website.
I do not have my source files yet. Can I still get a quote?
Please provide a word count (English) or character count (Japanese), and you will receive a provisional quote. Provisional quotes are subject to change upon receipt of source files.
Do you provide interpretation services?
We can provide bedside medical interpretation and other informal styles of in-person or telephonic interpretation (chuchotage, negotiation interpretation, etc.), and sight translation.
We do not offer simultaneous (UN-style) or consecutive (presentation-style) interpretation.
Do you translate patents and technical manuals?
We have no plans to work with documents of this type, as we do not have the skill set or experience base to render them properly in English. We recommend that you contact a highly qualified translator with specific experience in this area.
Pricing & Additional Services
What are your rates?
We tailor each quote to the demands of the particular project. Legal translation rates generally start at:
- Japanese-English: ¥20/character
- English-Japanese: ¥40/word
Our rates may be lower for certain simple documents, and for non-legal, non-technical projects.
In general, we charge more for tighter deadlines, so if you have any flexibility with the timing, be sure to let us know!
What is included in your standard quote?
Unless you request otherwise, our quote will reflect the following assumptions:
- Text-Only Output: delivery of translated text in a standard word processing or text file format, with no special formatting, layout or typesetting requests
- Electronic Output: delivery of an electronic file by email or upload to a cloud database of your choosing
- Final Files: versions submitted will not be amended during the translation process
- No special requests: no need for notarization, certification, signature, etc.
Can you rush my translation?
Yes, but only on a case-by-case basis and subject to prior approval. We are a small operation, and we cannot guarantee that we will be available to process a rush request. And naturally, certain documents are simply too long to be translated overnight.
If we do agree to process your order on a rush basis, we will charge the following minimum rush fees on top of our normal rates:
- Same day: ¥20,000
- 24-hour: ¥10,000
- 48-hour: ¥7,000
My document needs to be signed, certified, notarized, apostilled, etc. Can you help?
We can assist with most standard certification processes. For each document that requires special handling, we charge a fee to cover our expenses and time in carrying out the request. Please inquire with details about your specific situation.
Note that there is no such thing as a “legally certified” translator in Japan or the United States, and most translation qualifications that seem official are actually issued by private, for-profit entities. As such, we must inform you cannot provide translations from a “certified translator,” but we can certainly “certify” (attest in writing to) the accuracy of our translations to the best of our knowledge and belief. This is adequate for U.S. immigration applications and most other official purposes.
Let us know if you are concerned about a particular regulatory demand or the like, and we can puzzle over the wording of the requirement together.
Billing & Payment
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Japanese domestic bank transfers (振込), international wire transfers, and the following major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB.
What currencies do you accept?
Glad you asked! By default, we invoice and quote in Japanese yen (JPY). “¥” refers to JPY.
However, we can also generate quotes and accept payments in the following currencies: JPY, USD, CAD, AUS, NZD, GBP, EUR, and CNY. Please let us know if you would like to pay in an alternative currency at the inquiry stage, before we generate a quote and begin our work.
When do I pay?
We must receive full payment before we begin our work on your project. To avoid delays, please remit payment as soon as you have reviewed and approved your quote.