MKB Juristen drafts custom legal documents
It is best not to cobble together or copy important contracts, terms and conditions, and other legal documents yourself. We help entrepreneurs on a budget with customized legal solutions, clear costs upfront, and practical explanations.
- Custom contracts, terms and conditions, and legal documents
- Budget-friendly and clear about the costs upfront
- Request a free consultation or a no-obligation quote
Business translations in three categories: sworn (official documents with legal status), legal (contracts without sworn certification), and marketing (website, advertisement). Costs: €0.12–€0.25 per word; sworn translations are more expensive. A sworn translation is required for notarial deeds, Chamber of Commerce extracts, and official documents for use abroad. Below are the types, costs, and how Wim translates his UK contracts.
The short answer
- Sworn translation: for notarial deeds, Chamber of Commerce extracts, official documents.
- Legal translation: for contracts, terms and conditions, dispute documents.
- Marketing translation: for website, advertisements, brochures.
- Costs: €0.12–€0.25 per word; sworn 30–50% more expensive.
- Legal: sworn in only by a translator registered by a judge.
Three types of translations
1. Sworn translation
Court-registered translator (Wbtv register). Concludes with:
- Declaration of conformity with original.
- Translator's stamp and signature.
- Sometimes an apostille is required for use abroad.
Required for:
- Notarial deeds (deed of incorporation of a BV, articles of association).
- Chamber of Commerce extracts for abroad.
- Birth/marriage certificates.
- Diplomas for foreign recognition.
- Judicial documents in a foreign language.
2. Legal translation (non-certified)
By a specialized translator with legal knowledge. For:
- International customer contracts.
- General Terms and Conditions for foreign markets.
- License agreements.
- Privacy statements (unless for AP notification).
- NDAs and confidentiality agreements.
3. Marketing translation
By a creative translator with cultural insight. For:
- Website content (transcreation important).
- Advertisements and SEO content.
- Product descriptions.
- Brochures and presentations.
Not only translation, but adaptation to cultural context (transcreation).
Costs and factors
- Standard legal: €0.12-€0.18 per word.
- Sworn certifier: €0.18-€0.25 per word.
- Marketing/transcreation: €0.20-€0.40 per word.
- Emergency (24 hours): + 50-100% surcharge.
- Apostille on translation: €25-€100 extra.
- Notarial certification: €50-€150 extra.
For a 10-page contract (5,000 words): €600-€1,250 certified. For a 50,000-word website: €6,000-€20,000 including transcreation.
How to choose a translator?
- Wbtv register: for sworn translations, legally required.
- NGTV member: Professional Association of Translators in the Netherlands.
- Industry expertise: translator with an IT, financial, and legal background.
- Native speaker target language: essential for marketing.
- References: previous clients in a similar sector.
For large projects: translation agency offers teamwork (translator + reviser + project manager).
AI translation vs. human
Google Translate, DeepL, etc. are fast and free, but:
- Insufficient for legal (missing nuances).
- Not suitable for sworn registrar (person required).
- Cultural context is missing.
- Mistakes can turn out to be expensive (wrong contract).
For draft translation: AI is a great starting point. For final documents: always human revision.
Wim's UK contracts
Wim has Dutch client contracts — wants to export to the UK:
- General Terms and Conditions NL → EN: €800 for 5,000 words of legal translation.
- Customer contract template NL → EN: € 600.
- Website (15,000 words) NL → EN: € 3,000 including transcreation.
- VAT receipt and Chamber of Commerce extract sworn translated: € 250.
Total: €4,650 for the complete UK package. One-time investment, many years of use.
Honest recommendation
For international activity: invest in high-quality translations. For sworn documents: only Wbtv-registered translators. For contracts: specialized legal translator. For website/marketing: transcreator with cultural insight. AI tools as draft helpers, human for final revision. For regular international SMEs: a long-term relationship with a fixed translation agency is efficient.
For other topics: starting to export, checking a business partner , and a BV from abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sworn for official documents with legal status (notarial deeds, Chamber of Commerce extracts). Not sworn for contracts, terms and conditions, and marketing. Sworn by a Wbtv translator is mandatory — otherwise invalid.
Standard legal €0.12-€0.18 per word. Certified €0.18-€0.25/word. Marketing/transcreation €0.20-€0.40/word. Urgent +50-100%. For a 10-page contract (5,000 words): €600-€1,250 certified.
Wbtv Register for sworn translators, NGTV membership for quality, industry expertise (legal, IT, financial), native speaker of the target language for marketing, references from previous clients. For large projects: translation agency with teamwork.
Google Translate, DeepL: fast and free for drafts. Insufficient for final legal documents (miss nuances), not suitable for sworn statements. For final documents: always require human review.
When using a sworn translation abroad: an apostille on the translation is often required. Costs €25-€100 extra. Notarial certification for extra security €50-€150 extra. Check requirements for specific countries.
Creative adaptation to cultural context — not just translation. Essential for marketing: humor, imagery, and cultural references work differently by market. By a native speaker with marketing experience.
English most in demand. Next, German, French, and Spanish for the EU. For specific markets: Chinese, Arabic, and Russian. For less common languages: fewer translators, higher costs.
