Guide · Certified translations
Do Sütterlin or Kurrent records need transcription or translation?
Historical German handwriting is not another language simply because it is difficult to read. Establish whether you need transcription, translation or both.
Reviewed on 27 October 2026
The short answer
Transcription renders handwriting in a readable modern form. Translation renders the text in another language. Both may be needed for foreign-language submission; the recipient determines certification requirements. Legibility and available specialist skills must be checked against the complete record before confirming the work.
Identify script and language separately
Record document type, approximate issue date and intended use. An old birth record or will can require specialist vocabulary and script knowledge that a simple file conversion cannot provide.
The Hessian State Archives provide transcribed sources and reading exercises. Comparing them illustrates deciphering work; it does not automatically establish official acceptance of a private transcript.
Read more: Hessian State Archives: handwriting exercises and transcribed sources
Prepare a suitable complete image
Show the full sheet with margins, column headings and neighbouring entries where they belong to the record. Avoid heavy compression and offer an additional detail image for fine handwriting.
Do not alter the text by tracing or completing it yourself. If you have a family transcript, label it as an additional reading aid and keep the unchanged source separately.
Agree treatment of unclear passages and certification
Discuss legibility and whether a better official reproduction should be obtained. Automated text recognition or a private reading suggestion is not yet a checked final version.
State the recipient, target language and required certification. An enquiry establishes available options; it is not a blanket commitment to decipher every hand or certify a particular transcript.
Your next steps
Describe the script, language and intended use.
Provide a complete unchanged image.
Have legibility and specialist skills checked.
Agree transcription, translation and certification separately.
More questions
Is Sütterlin a separate language?
It is a script. Modern transcription and translation into another language are different tasks.
Can an AI reading be certified directly?
An existing reading must be checked against the source. The result and possible certification need separate clarification.
Can I include a family transcript?
Yes, labelled as a reading aid. It does not replace the complete source or its examination.
Sources and further reading
The receiving organisation’s current instructions matter for your assignment. Send them to us with your documents.
Clarify requirements before ordering
Send a legible sample and state the desired output. Legibility, script expertise and possible service scope must be checked first.
Confirm the required issuing route and availability first.