By Dr. Refugio A. Del Campo, English–Spanish certified translator (perito traductor) · October 29, 2026
When a document must be submitted to a notary, a court, a university or a government agency in Mexico, it often has to be translated and signed by a court-appointed translator (perito traductor). Many websites offer “certified translations”, and it is not always easy to tell who is actually authorized. These are the ten points we recommend checking before you hire.
1. Make sure the translator is actually authorized
- Ask for the license number and the name of the authority that issued it.
- Look it up in the official list of authorized translators, usually published in the state’s Official Gazette (Periódico Oficial), or ask the relevant government office.
- Check that it is current: in some states the license is renewed every year.
2. Know who signs the translation and whose license is used
A certification is not issued by a brand or a website, but by an individual with his or her own license. Treat these as warning signs:
- The website does not give the translator’s name, only a trade name.
- No license number is shown, or it refers to “authorized translators” without specific details.
- The license cannot be verified in an official list.
- It is not clear which state issued the license or which authority granted it.
- The translation arrives signed by someone other than the person you dealt with.
- An intermediary subcontracts the work without telling you whose seal and signature will be used.
It is easy to advertise a certification on the assumption that clients will not check it. If the license later turns out not to exist, not to be current or not to belong to the person who signed, the translation may be rejected and, depending on the document, that can mean a stalled application, a delayed lawsuit or documentary evidence that is not admitted, in addition to paying again. Verify it yourself: with the name and license number, it takes only a few minutes.
3. Ask for proof of academic credentials
- A serious translator has no problem showing his or her academic degrees.
- Mexican professional licenses (cédulas profesionales) can be checked at gob.mx/cedulaprofesional.
4. Look for verifiable experience
- Ask how many years the person has been translating and how many as a perito.
- If your document is legal, technical or financial, ask about experience with that type of text.
- It is reasonable to ask for client references.
5. Expect reasonable fees
- A very high price does not guarantee quality; a suspiciously low one deserves questions.
- The price should be explained (per document or per page) and state whether it includes PDF, printed copy and VAT.
6. Check that the license covers your language pair
- Each perito is authorized for specific languages, for example English–Spanish.
- Confirm the language pair and the direction you need in the official list.
7. The translation must bear a seal, signature and certification statement, and be complete
- It must include the certification statement and the translator’s name, signature, seal and license number.
- Everything must be translated: stamps, signatures, notes, exhibits and, where applicable, the apostille.
- Send the complete document, including the back of every page.
8. Your documents should be handled confidentially
- Ask how your files are received and stored.
- If you are a company, request a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before sending them.
9. Get a written quote with a clear price and timeline
- It should state the total price, what is included, payment terms and the delivery date.
- A reliable timeline is given after the document has been reviewed.
- If you have a deadline, mention it from the start.
10. Confirm the requirements with whoever will receive the translation
- Translations certified by a perito are generally accepted, but each institution sets its own requirements.
- Ask in writing whether they accept a PDF or require the printed original, and whether an apostille is needed.
- Share that information with the translator when you request a quote.
Quick checklist before you hire
- Do I know who will sign, the license number and which authority issued it?
- Is the translator in the current official list, for the language pair I need?
- Can I verify the translator’s credentials and experience?
- Do I have a written quote with price and timeline?
- Have I confirmed the requirements with the institution that will receive the translation?
How Traducciones Del Campo meets these points
- An identified translator: Dr. Refugio Alberto Del Campo González Pico, English–Spanish court-appointed translator (perito traductor), license GES-PD-0641, issued by the Secretaría General de Gobierno de San Luis Potosí.
- A verifiable license on page 20 of the 2026 Official List of Authorized Court-Appointed Translators in the Official Gazette of the State of San Luis Potosí (in Spanish).
- Credentials: Doctor of Business Administration (Universidad La Salle México) and MBA (University of Ottawa, Canada), with professional licenses listed on the certified translator page.
- Experience: more than 30 years in translation and more than 10 as a perito; he personally reviews and signs every translation.
- A verifiable certification: each translation carries a code that can be checked at Verify a certification.
- Clear prices and timelines: published reference pricing, a written quote on the same business day and a standard delivery of 3 business days for documents of up to 20 pages, depending on the translator’s availability.
- Requirements confirmed with you and with the authority that will receive the translation.
If you have a document to translate, request your quote online.
Leer este artículo en español.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify that a certified translator (perito traductor) is authorized?
Ask for the translator’s name, license number and the authority that issued it, and look it up in the current official list of authorized translators.
What should I do if a website does not say who the translator is?
Before hiring, ask who will sign the translation and what the license number is. The person who signs is the one responsible for it.
Is a certified translation accepted for any procedure?
It is generally accepted, but each institution sets its own requirements. Always confirm them with whoever will receive the translation.