Will Translation: Foreign Wills in US Probate
Translations of wills written in another language for US probate, and of US wills and estate documents for use in another country.
Reviewed by Murat Saymaz, Global Certified Translations · Facts checked 4 November 2026
The short answer
A will written in another language can be probated in the US with an English translation. New York requires a translator's affidavit of qualifications and accuracy with foreign-language papers (CPLR 2101(b)); Florida will not admit a foreign-language will without a true and complete English translation (Fla. Stat. 733.204). In New Jersey, ask the county Surrogate how the translation must be proved.
Rules that apply
Each rule links to its source. Checked 4 November 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the office that will receive your documents.
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| A foreign-language paper filed in a New York court must be accompanied by an English translation and the translator's affidavit of qualifications and accuracy. | NY CPLR 2101(b) |
| No will in a foreign language is admitted to probate in Florida unless accompanied by a true and complete English translation. | Florida Statutes 733.204 |
| In the EU, the law of the deceased's habitual residence generally governs succession, unless they chose the law of their nationality in their will. | Regulation (EU) No 650/2012, Articles 21-22 |
| The 1961 Hague Convention on the form of testamentary dispositions recognises wills made in several forms; the United States is not a party. | HCCH, Form of Testamentary Dispositions Convention (1961) |
| The 1973 Washington Convention provides a uniform form of "international will". | UNIDROIT, Convention providing a Uniform Law on the Form of an International Will |
A foreign will in a US court
People who emigrated often made a will in their first language, or a relative abroad left them something in a will written there. A US probate court reads English, so the will must be translated, and the court must be able to rely on the translation. New York requires the translator's affidavit stating their qualifications and that the translation is accurate; Florida requires a true and complete translation before admitting the will. New Jersey courts have accepted foreign-language wills with a proved English translation for a long time; the county Surrogate's office will say which form of translator's affidavit it wants. Ask before ordering, so the affidavit is prepared once.
What a will translation must get right
- Names of heirs and legatees, exactly as written, with transliteration notes where names are in another script.
- Property descriptions, account numbers and registry references copied exactly.
- Words of disposition ("I leave", "I bequeath", "usufruct", "bare ownership") translated precisely; civil-law concepts such as usufructo or legítima are kept in italics with an explanation.
- Formalities: witnesses, the notary's certificate, the registration of the will in a national registry, translated in full.
- Handwritten wills, transcribed and translated, with any illegible word marked.
A US will used abroad
When someone with a US will owns property abroad, a foreign notary or court may need the will, the probate order or letters testamentary, and the death certificate. Expect apostilles from the state that issued them and translations into the local language, often by a local sworn translator. Some families make a separate will in the other country for the property there; that is a question for lawyers in both countries.
Estate planning documents
Trusts, powers of attorney and health-care directives also cross borders. A health-care directive translated for relatives abroad, or a foreign power of attorney translated for a US bank, follows the same rules: full translation, certificate of accuracy, and notarization if the receiving office asks.
Notarial wills and registries
In many civil-law countries, wills are made before a notary and recorded in a national registry of wills. A certified copy from the notary, with the registry certificate showing it is the last will, is the document a US court or heir needs. Translate both. Where a holographic (handwritten) will was deposited with a notary, the notary's deposit record is translated with it.
What we don't do
We translate and process state apostilles. We do not draft wills, advise on validity or succession law, or appear in probate court. Where a translator must sign a court-specific affidavit, tell us when ordering.
Documents we translate for this
Legal Document translation
Certified translation of court judgments, contracts, powers of attorney, affidavits and evidence for US and foreign courts.
Death Certificate translation
Certified death certificate translation for estates, insurance claims, USCIS filings and repatriation.
Power of Attorney translation
Certified translation of powers of attorney and affidavits for use abroad or in the US, with the order of notarization, apostille and …
Price
$39 for the first page (up to 250 words) into English, $49 into any other language, then $0.116 per additional word. Each file is priced on its own. The signed certificate of accuracy is included.
Full pricingTurnaround
24 hours standard for most documents. Expedited service is +50% for 6–8 hours and +100% for 1–3 hours. Large files are quoted with a delivery date before you pay.
Questions
Can you translate a US will into Italian or Spanish for use abroad?
We can translate it, but many foreign notaries require a local sworn translator for documents that transfer property. Ask the notary first.
Can a will in Spanish or Polish be probated in New Jersey?
Yes, with an English translation that the court accepts. Ask the county Surrogate how it wants the translation proved, usually by the translator's affidavit.
Do you provide the translator's affidavit for probate?
Yes. We prepare a sworn affidavit of accuracy and qualifications, notarized for $19, in the wording the court requires if you send it.
Can you translate a handwritten will?
Yes, where it is legible. Words we cannot read with certainty are marked, not guessed.
Related
Prepared by Global Certified Translations, Edgewater, NJ. Translations are signed by a State Court Certified Translator. This page explains translation requirements; it is not legal advice.
Ready to send your documents?
Upload them for an instant word count and price.
Get an Instant Quote