Nihil Prius Fide and typical expressions in notarial documents.
Have you ever got a document notarised? Or a deed executed before a Notary Public? If your answer is ‘yes’, you will probably have encountered the expression Nihil Prius Fide» .
Nihil Prius Fide is a Latin phrase that translates to «Nothing Before Faith» or «Nothing is More Important than Faith». In Spanish, it can be traslated as “nada antes que la fe” (la fe pública, claro). El origen del latinismo se remonta a una frase del poeta romano Propercio y lo cierto es que es fuente de muchas anécdotas en el mundo notarial.
This motto focuses on the idea of bringing faith above all else, conveying the idea that faith is a supreme value. This motto has been used, historically, by many organizations and families as their guiding principle, conveying the idea of a commitment to faith as something central and essential to their identity or purpose.
CERTIFIED TRANSLATION OF FEATURES AND ELEMENTS APPEARING IN NOTARIAL DOCUMENTS
Are seals, stamps and security features appearing in notarial documents translated?
Yes, they have to be translated. Everything contained in a document whose certified translation has been requested HAS TO be translated.
1. Seals and Stamps
- Government and Official Documents: Seals and stamps from government institutions (notaries, official registries, embassies/consulted) are translated. This is something ESSENTIAL if the document needs to be valid in a foreign country.
- Corporate Documents: Corporate seals and stamps must be translated as well if the document is to be used abroad. Let´s take the example of a contract signed by two companies. It is essential that the translator takes note of this so as to include references to stamps and signatures in his/her translation. Otherwise, translations could be rejected as they do not accurately reflect the original meaning and features.
- Apostilles and Legalization: Apostilles, also known as legalisations, tend to be in three languages. They must be translated as well if not in the language intended.
2. Security Features
- Security features tend to contain text. This text is normally translated as well, usually appearing in brackets within the translated document. Security features on things like currency, passports and Identification Documents may not be translated directly, but included by the translator in form of reference.
Practical Example
Let´s say that we are translating a birth certificate with a notary´s stamp in a different language. The translator will add the following expression in the translaton: “[Official Notary Seal follows]”.
For documents with official seals and stamps, the translation often goes through certified translators who note and translate any critical information in these stamps for clarity.
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Nihil Prius Fide and typical expressions in notarial documents.
