Dr. Erhan Şimşek
German · English · Turkish
Sworn Translator (OLG Hamm)
Sworn Translator (OLG Hamm)
I arrange official apostilles and legalisations so your certified translation is recognised abroad.
If you need to use a German document – or a certified translation of one – outside Germany, you will often require an apostille or legalisation. These confirm that the document is authentic and that the translator's signature and seal are official.
As a sworn translator appointed by the Oberlandesgericht Hamm, my translations are certified and my signature is on file with the Landgericht Detmold. I can obtain an apostille or legalisation for your translation through the President of the Landgericht Detmold, saving you time and effort.
| Apostille | Legalisation |
|---|---|
| For countries that are party to the Hague Convention of 1961 | For countries not party to the Hague Convention |
| Single certification by a designated authority | Multi-step process: preliminary certification + final legalisation by the Federal Office of Administration (Bundesverwaltungsamt) or embassy |
| Simpler and faster (usually 1–5 working days) | Can take longer and may involve additional fees |
| Accepted in over 120 countries | Required for countries like China, India, South Africa, etc. |
Ob eine Legalisation oder eine Apostille erforderlich ist, hängt davon ab, in welchem Land die in Deutschland ausgestellte Urkunde verwendet werden soll. Should a legalisation be required, the President of the Landgericht provides a preliminary certification. Depending on the destination country, a final certification by the Federal Office of Administration in Cologne may then be necessary.
For more general information, please refer to the German Federal Foreign Office website.
Email a clear scan/photo of your document to info@esimsek.de and let me know which country you need it for.
I produce a certified translation with my official seal and signature (if needed).
I submit your translation (and original document if required) to the Landgericht Detmold for the apostille or legalisation.
You receive your translation with the apostille/legalisation – ready for use abroad.
Quick answers to common questions about apostilles and legalisations.
An apostille is a simplified certification for countries that are party to the Hague Convention. Legalisation is a multi-step process for countries that are not party to the Convention.
Yes, I can obtain an apostille or legalisation for your certified translation through the President of the Landgericht Detmold, where my signature is on file.
The Landgericht Detmold usually processes apostilles and legalisations within 5 working days. Express service may be available upon request.
Over 120 countries that are party to the Hague Convention of 1961 accept apostilles. For non-member countries, a full legalisation is required.
The fee for an apostille (certification of official signatures) will not be seperately calculated. It is already a part of the translation.
I'm happy to answer any specific questions about your document authentication needs. Contact me directly at info@esimsek.de or +49 176 354 39 79 1 for personalised assistance.
✅ Sworn Translator & Interpreter (OLG Hamm, NRW)
✅ My signature is on file at Landgericht Detmold
✅ Apostilles and legalisations arranged directly through the competent authority
Based in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region (Bielefeld, Detmold, Paderborn), I provide certified translations with apostille/legalisation to clients throughout Germany and abroad. If you need a certified translation with apostille for use outside Germany, upload your document here.