Legal Translations in Spanish Speaking Countries

Countries have different legal traditions. The legal systems of English countries is usually based on Common Law theory which works on precedent. The legal systems in Spanish countries are usually inherited from Spain and is based Napoleonic Law principles, which limits the ability of judges to establish precedent. Under this legal theory, judges are bound by general rules which fall within the domain of the legislative branches of government.

But even if these countries use the same legal theory, Spanish speaking countries all have at least some differences in their legal systems. This poses problems of Spanish legal translations, especially that of documents with legal validity.

The one country that has drastically different legal system is Cuba, which has departed drastically from the legal system of Spain, the root system of the other Spanish-speaking countries. Legal translators must always be cognizant of these differences and be familiar with the peculiarities of each country's legal system.