Federal Courts: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language

Worth knowing about C.D. Cal.

C.D. Cal. requirements in detail

No federal-wide rule: why the local rule matters

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure let the court appoint an interpreter and tax the interpreter's compensation as costs (Rule 43(d)), but they set no rule for translating documents that are filed, so the requirement comes from each district's local rules.

The Central District of California states it in one line: claim-initiating documents in English, everything else in English or with an English translation filed at the same time, unless the court orders otherwise for good cause (C.D. Cal. Local Rules, chapter I, effective June 2026: L.R. 11-3.10 and 54-3.7).

The rule asks for the translation at filing.

A declaration with a foreign-language contract attached, for example, should be filed with the translation as part of the same submission; a court order excusing it needs a showing of good cause.

The rule does not ask for a certificate, but a signed certificate of accuracy is what lets the other side and the court see who translated the exhibit and on what basis.

Costs and patent cases

C.D. Cal. treats interpreting and translating differently when costs are taxed after judgment: fees paid to interpreters at court proceedings and depositions are taxable, document translation costs are not (L.R. 54-3.7). Budget for translations as a cost each party bears.

Patent cases in the Northern District of California have a specific rule: when the party opposing a claim of infringement serves its invalidity contentions and produces prior art that is not in English, it must also produce an English translation of the parts it relies on (Patent L.R. 3-4(b)).

Those translations often end up as exhibits, so translating the relied-upon portions carefully at the disclosure stage avoids a second translation later.

Where districts differ

Some districts and judges go further than C.D. Cal. and require a certified translation, or a translator with specific credentials, for exhibits and evidence.

We did not confirm those rules on the courts' own sites today, so this page does not state them.

Before filing elsewhere, read that court's local rules and the assigned judge's individual practices, and tell us at ordering if they name a type of translator.

Documents people usually translate

• Contracts and agreements filed as exhibits
• Business records, invoices and correspondence used as evidence
• Foreign judgments, court records and corporate registry extracts
• Prior art references in patent cases
• Declarations and affidavits signed in another language

What an eVerbary translation includes

• A complete English translation of every page, stamps, seals and handwritten notes included, laid out like the original so each line can be matched.
• A signed certificate of translation accuracy on letterhead, with our contact details, delivered as a PDF you can upload or print.
• $24.95 per page of up to 250 words, certification included; 24 hours for one to three pages as standard. Regular clients who need it can get delivery in as little as 30 minutes, on request.
• Notarization added at checkout ($34.90 per order) when the office asks for a notarized translation.

Submitting the translation to C.D. Cal.

• The attorney files the English translation with the foreign document through the court's electronic filing system, at the same time (L.R. 11-3.10).

• We deliver the translation as a PDF with a signed certificate of translation accuracy, ready to attach as an exhibit next to the original.

How to order

1. Scan or photograph every page of the document, front and back, including any stamps on the reverse.
2. Upload it, choose the language and "certified", and see the price before paying.
3. Receive the PDF, usually within 24 hours for one to three pages, and submit it with the copy of the original wherever the office asks for it.

Frequently asked questions