First of all you should enquire -if you understand Italian- if the consulate accepts self translations even though you are not certified. If not you could either pick an ATA certified translator or pick the ones recommended by the consulate.


Link to ATA: http://www.americantranslators.org/tsd_listings/#translators

Choose: From English to Italian

Pick third option: Show only those members who are ATA-certified in the selected language combination.

After you select a translator, make sure that he/she writes an affidavit of translation because the translations are usually without any signature so with an affidavit they know that a certified translator translated them.

You don't need to pick a translator from your state since you could mail the documents.

I suggest that you always have the translator notarize his/her signature. This is not always a must but if you don't do this, then there is no proof that they translated them.

Besides this, EVERY consulate requires to apostille the vital records / court papers before presenting them.

I apostilled them before translating them and then I also translated the apostille, even though translating the apostille is not a requirement if you are planning to use the documents within USA.

Always get an affidavit of translation.

For that you could use one of the many standard letters i.e.:


Affidavit of TRANSLATION

STATE OF ....._____________________

COUNTY OF .....________________________


I, _____"translator's full name"______, am fluent in English and Italian. I hereby certify that I have translated/verified the following document(s) which is/are attached to this Affidavit:

Detail of Document A
Detail of Document B
Detail of Document C


I further certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the attached document(s) in Italian is/are a true and accurate translation of the attached document(s) in English.

__________________(Signature) - would be great to include ATA certified-


(Translator’s name)
__________________________________________________
(Print name)


Sworn before me this _____xx_______day of _____July______________,__2005


Personally known_____________ OR Produced identification __________________.



Type of identification produced: ______________________.

____________________________________
(Signature of Notary Public)



________________________________________________
(Print, type or stamp commissioned name of Notary Public)


My commission expires on: