A power of attorney or affidavit is translated in full: the text, the signatures, the notary’s seal, and the apostille if there is one. For USCIS, the English translation comes with the translator’s signed certification. If the power of attorney will be used abroad, that country decides the order of the steps.
Two situations
- You signed a power of attorney in the U.S. so a relative can handle something for you back home. You need it translated into Spanish.
- You have an affidavit or power of attorney in Spanish and need to file it with USCIS or a U.S. court. You need it translated into English.
On November 3, 2026, a client asked us to translate three signed affidavits. That’s the second case, and the simpler one.
A Spanish affidavit or power of attorney for USCIS
USCIS requires a full English translation of any document in another language. Under 8 CFR § 103.2(b)(3), the translator certifies that the translation is complete and accurate. They also certify that they’re competent to translate into English.
Because the translation has to be complete, it includes the notary’s seal and signature, revenue stamps, and margin notes. If the affidavit carries an apostille, that’s translated too.
The regulation doesn’t mention notarizing the translation. If the document is going to a court, check with the clerk’s office or your attorney about the format they want. For apostille questions in a USCIS filing, see certified translation vs. apostille.
Translating a document vs. notarizing the translation
A translated power of attorney can carry three signatures, each with its own job:
- Notarization of the power of attorney: the notary you signed in front of confirms your identity. This happens before any translation.
- Certificate of Translation Accuracy: the translator states that the translation is complete and accurate.
- Notarization of the translation: a notary public confirms the identity of the translator who signs that certificate. The notary doesn’t review the translation or the power of attorney itself.
The Florida Department of State puts it plainly: the person who translates a document can’t be the person who notarizes it. At Fidelis, Jorge Cardona translates and signs the certificate, and a Florida notary public notarizes his signature. For more on the difference, see certified vs. notarized translation.
A power of attorney signed in Florida for use abroad
Step 1: Notarize the power of attorney
You sign in front of a Florida notary public. For an apostille, the Florida Department of State requires a full notarial statement in English. It needs the notary’s original signature and seal; photocopies aren’t accepted.
Step 2: Get the apostille
Apostilles work between countries that are party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. The U.S. has been a party since October 15, 1981. So are Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Peru, among others.
In Florida, only the Secretary of State issues apostilles, through the Division of Corporations in Tallahassee. Its website said this on November 4, 2026:
- $10 per notarized document, paid by check or money order (no cash or credit cards).
- Requests go by mail, with the request form and a return envelope, or in person at the Tallahassee office.
- There’s no expedited service. Most walk-in requests can be completed while you wait.
The apostille certifies the notary’s signature. According to the Hague Conference, it doesn’t certify what the document says. If the destination country isn’t a party (Cuba, for example, isn’t on the list), Florida issues a notarial certificate instead. In that case, ask that country’s consulate what other steps you need.
Step 3: Translate, based on what the destination country wants
There isn’t one rule here. Each country decides which translation it accepts and when:
- Translate the apostilled power of attorney. The translation covers the power of attorney, the notary certificate, and the apostille.
- Notarize and apostille the translation too. The translator signs the certificate before a Florida notary. You send that notarized translation to the Secretary of State for its own apostille. We deliver the notarized translation; you handle the apostille.
- Translate in the destination country. Some countries only accept translations from a translator authorized there. For example, the Consulate General of Spain in London asks for a sworn translator-interpreter registered in Spain. If that’s your situation, our translation won’t work for that step.
Before you pay for anything, ask whoever will receive the power of attorney (a notary, registry, or bank) or that country’s consulate. Find out which translation they accept and in what order. If it’s written in Spanish, the notary certificate and apostille will be in English, so ask whether those need translating.
What gets translated besides the text
We translate everything on the document:
- The notary seal. In Florida, it shows “Notary Public-State of Florida,” the notary’s name, the commission expiration date, and the commission number.
- The notarial certificate, including the date, the notary’s signature, and the type of ID the signer presented.
- Signatures, shown in brackets, such as [Illegible signature].
- The apostille, with its number and date.
- Annotations: handwritten notes, revenue stamps, received stamps, and page numbers.
We use a mirror layout: the translation follows the original’s layout, so each detail sits in the same place.
Price and turnaround
A certified translation costs $29 for the first page and $25 for each additional page in the same order, up to 500 words per page. Florida notarization adds $30 per order.
For example, our client’s three one-page affidavits come to $79. Notarized, they come to $109.
Certified translations of up to 3 pages in 3 hours. Orders from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time), every day. The 3 hours start once you pay and send a legible photo; outside those hours, they start at 8 a.m. If we don’t deliver in 3 hours, you get your money back. Notarized translation: 1 business day.
We translate the document you’ve already signed. To draft a power of attorney or decide what it should say, talk to an attorney or notary in the country where it will be used.
Have your power of attorney or affidavit handy?
Send us a clear photo of every page, including seals and the apostille. We’ll confirm the price and turnaround before you pay.