Document Translations for Divorce Filings

When filing for divorce with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), you must provide certified translations of any documents that are not in English. Each translation must include a translator’s statement of truth, which must be personally signed and dated by the translator.

Statement of Truth Requirement for Divorce

Since late 2023, HMCTS has tightened its rules around certified translations for divorce applications. Under updated guidance aligned with the Civil Procedure Rules (Part 22), only translations personally signed and dated by the translator are accepted. Translations issued under a company name without a named individual will be rejected.

This change affects anyone submitting foreign-language documents such as marriage certificates, birth certificates, or proof of name change. The translator must include a formal statement of truth confirming they completed the translation themselves and believe it to be accurate. The wording must also acknowledge the legal consequences of making a false statement in court.

Statement of Truth Wording

At DTS, every translation we provide for divorce applications includes a properly worded and personally signed statement of truth. The statement reads as follows:

"I hereby certify that I have personally carried out this translation, and I certify that it is to the best of my knowledge and belief, a true and accurate translation from [language] to English. I believe that the facts stated in this statement are true. I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth."