A will is an important document. If it has to be (partly) performed abroad, there must be a sworn translation and an apostille must be attached to it.

It is generally known that a sworn translator demonstrates by means of a stamp, among other things, that the translation he or she has made is a faithful reproduction of the source text. However, it is not generally known that an apostille is an additional confirmation from the Court that speeds up the legalization of a document and that the document can be used immediately in the country of destination.

To obtain such an apostille, you must make an appointment with the court, where it will be affixed on the spot to the back of the translated will and provided with two (2) stamps that inseparably link the apostille and the translation.

When one of our sworn translators recently translated a will, I had the honor of arranging an apostille at the court in Alkmaar. However, that turned out differently than I had expected, because immediately after the check at the entrance I was taken aside by two stern-looking guards. They had seen on the scan that there was a knife in my bag. And that was true, because I actually always have a pocket knife with me. “Stupid!”, it immediately shot through my mind, but immediately after that I was actually curious what would happen next. The gentlemen took me and my pocket knife to a small room at the back of the building, where they checked on the basis of a poster with all kinds of knives that the blade of my knife was no longer than 26 cm. Because if that was the case, I wouldn’t be allowed to have it with me in court and they would have to confiscate it. So knife away. But a knife with a blade of 26 cm, that is a very large knife. And to my relief, the blade of my pocket knife turned out to be only 9 cm. Just enough to peel an apple, but otherwise in no way a threat to anyone.

When this point of attention was resolved, I was outside again within ten minutes with my apostille, and I was able to send the Dutch and English will to the customer by registered mail.

So if you have a Dutch will that must be (partially) executed abroad, bear in mind that the translation must be made by a sworn translator and that an apostille must be arranged through the court.

Willem Ezerman

Director/ English Translator