Translate a Foreign Death Certificate into Russian
Send us a scan of the foreign death certificate. We translate it into Russian and have a licensed Russian notary certify the translator's signature, so it is ready to open or continue an inheritance case with a Russian notary in 2-3 business days.
- In-country team in Krasnodar since 2001
- Fixed quote before you pay
- No Translation Error Guarantee
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What to Send Us
- A clear scan or photo of the full death certificate, including any stamps, seals, or annotations on the back
- The apostille page, if your country requires one for Russia (see below to check whether yours does)
- The full name of the deceased exactly as it appears on Russian records or documents, so we spell it the same way
- The name of the Russian notary or notary district handling the inheritance file, if you already know it
- A phone number, email, or Telegram handle so we can reach you with any questions
Why a Foreign Certified Translation Is Not Enough for Russia
A sworn or certified translation made abroad is not accepted on its own by a Russian notary. Under Article 81 of the Fundamentals of Legislation on Notaries of the Russian Federation, a Russian notary certifies the signature of a translator who holds a recognized translation diploma and is registered with that notary’s office. This is the exact format a Russian notary looks for when opening or processing an inheritance file. Our translators are diploma-holders registered with a Russian notary, so every death certificate translation we deliver already meets this requirement.
This page covers one direction only: a foreign death certificate translated for use in Russia. If instead you have a Russian death certificate that needs an apostille and translation for use abroad, that is the reverse service — see apostille + translation of a Russian document.
Why Timing Matters for an Inheritance Case
Under Russian inheritance law, heirs generally have six months from the date of death to accept an inheritance with a Russian notary. To open that inheritance file, the notary needs a notarized Russian translation of the death certificate as proof of when and where the death occurred. The sooner you send us a clear scan, the sooner your notary can open the file and get the rest of the paperwork moving.
Do You Need an Apostille First?
An apostille has to be placed on the death certificate in the country where it was issued, before you send it to us. We do not issue apostilles ourselves; we accept a certificate that has already been apostilled, or an original from a country that does not need one. If the certificate comes from a country with a legal-assistance treaty with Russia, including the CIS countries, Serbia, and the Czech Republic, no apostille is required. Tell us where the certificate was issued and we will check for you before you order.
Death Certificate Translation — Price
Death Certificate Translation
€49per certificate
Certified Russian translation of the death certificate, plus notarization of the translator's signature by a licensed Russian notary
2-3 business days
No Translation Error Guarantee
If a Russian authority rejects your translation because of a mistake we made — a misspelled name, a mistranslated term, a missing stamp — we redo it at no charge, on a rush basis.
Applies to our own translation and notarization work; does not cover requirements set by the receiving authority, such as an apostille it turns out you needed, or a document type it does not accept in translated form at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I translate a death certificate into Russian for an inheritance case?
Send us a clear scan of the full death certificate. We translate it into Russian and a licensed Russian notary certifies the signature of the translator, which is the format a Russian notary requires to open or process an inheritance file under Article 81 of the Fundamentals of Legislation on Notaries.
Do I need an apostille on the death certificate before you translate it?
It depends on where the certificate was issued. Hague Convention countries need an apostille on the original, added in the country of origin, not by us. Countries with a legal-assistance treaty with Russia, including the CIS countries, Serbia, and the Czech Republic, do not need one. Tell us the country and we will confirm.
Can I use a sworn or certified translation from my own country instead?
No. A Russian notary works with translations notarized inside Russia under Russian law, not with a foreign sworn-translator stamp. Send us the original death certificate and we will produce a translation your notary will accept.
How much time do I have to accept an inheritance in Russia?
Heirs generally have six months from the date of death to accept an inheritance with a Russian notary. A notarized translation of the death certificate is usually one of the first documents needed to open that file, so it helps to start early.
How long does it take to translate a death certificate into Russian?
Standard turnaround is 2-3 business days from the moment we receive a clear scan of the certificate and, where required, its apostille.
Do I also need to translate other inheritance documents, like a will or marriage certificate?
Often, yes. A Russian notary handling an inheritance file may also ask for a translated marriage certificate, a will, or proof of relationship to the deceased. We can translate and notarize all of these together.
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Ready when you are
Send a scan now — you will have a fixed price and an honest deadline answer within 2 hours during working hours, and you pay nothing until you approve.
We are not a Russian government agency or a notary office. An apostille on a foreign death certificate is placed in the country where the certificate was issued, not by us; we accept a certificate that already carries one, or an original from a country that does not require one under a legal-assistance treaty with Russia, such as the CIS countries, Serbia, or the Czech Republic. Foreign sworn or certified translations are not accepted by a Russian notary; a Russian notary must certify the signature of a registered translator under Article 81 of the Fundamentals of Legislation on Notaries, which is what we provide. The six-month inheritance acceptance period is a general rule; confirm the deadline that applies to your specific case with the notary handling the file.
