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📄✍️ 結婚證書如何翻譯？（北卡＋紐約雙版本教學）附兩份 Certified Translation 範本！How to Translate a Marriage Certificate? (North Carolina + New York Samples) — Includes Two Certified Translation Templates

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📄✍️ 結婚證書如何翻譯？（北卡＋紐約雙版本教學）附兩份 Certified Translation 範本！

很多人拿到美國或海外的結婚證書（Marriage Certificate／Marriage License），在申請：

  • 保險（把配偶加進保單、更新受益人）
  • 移民、綠卡、入籍
  • 銀行、房貸、信託或遺產規劃
  • 學校、法院或其他政府機關

時才發現：「我要的是英文版？中文版？還是 Certified Translation？」

這一篇用 北卡（North Carolina）＋紐約（New York） 兩種文件為例，帶你一步步看懂：

  • 什麼是結婚證書？常見欄位有哪些？
  • 什麼是 Certified Translation？哪些情況會被要求？
  • 北卡式的「長版結婚證書」如何翻？
  • 紐約式的「簡短註冊證明」如何翻？
  • 兩份可直接套用的翻譯範本（一般版＋Certified Translation 版）

提醒：本文為教學用途，示例中的姓名、地址等皆以中性代稱說明；實際翻譯時，請依照你手上的正式文件逐字核對。

📌 一、先弄清楚：結婚證書是什麼？可能長什麼樣子？

在美國，不同州的結婚文件名稱略有差異，常見的有：

  • Marriage License：結婚「許可證」，結婚前由 County／City 簽發
  • Marriage Certificate：結婚完成後，由登記機關發出的「結婚證明」
  • Certificate of Marriage Registration：部分州（如紐約）用這個名稱

以本文為例：

  • 北卡州（North Carolina）文件：欄位很多，包含雙方姓名、婚前姓氏、出生地、種族、職業、地址、婚姻狀態、父母姓名等。
  • 紐約市（New York City）文件：欄位較少，重點放在雙方姓名、結婚日期、登記資訊。

👉 重點是：無論是哪一州，翻譯時的原則是「逐欄位對應，忠實呈現，不自行增刪。」

📌 二、什麼是 Certified Translation？什麼時候會被要求？

很多單位只要求「看得懂內容」就好，但以下情況，常常會特別要求 Certified Translation／經宣誓之正式翻譯：

  • 移民局（USCIS）申請：配偶移民、身份調整、入籍等
  • 法院文件：離婚訴訟、監護權、遺產分配
  • 政府機關：社安局、州機關、更名申請等
  • 部分保險公司、金融機構：需要正式紀錄配偶關係

Certified Translation 通常會包含三個元素：

  1. 完整、逐字的翻譯文本（勿偷懶省略）
  2. 翻譯者聲明（Translator’s Certification Statement）
  3. 翻譯者姓名、簽名、日期、聯絡方式，有時還會附上公司抬頭

翻譯者不一定要是 Notary，但必須能為自己的翻譯正確度負責。
如果還需要 Notarization（公證翻譯者簽名），則會由第三方 Notary 對「翻譯者簽名」做公證，而不是對翻譯內容背書。

📌 三、結婚證書常見欄位：中英文對照快速表

以下整理幾個在北卡／紐約文件中常看到的欄位名稱，方便你在翻譯時對照：

  • Groom / Bride / Spouse：新郎／新娘／配偶
  • Name of Groom/Bride：新郎／新娘姓名
  • Maiden Name：婚前姓氏（多半指新娘婚前的姓）
  • Date of Birth：出生日期
  • Place of Birth：出生地
  • Residence / Address：住址
  • Race：種族
  • Occupation：職業
  • Marital Status：婚姻狀態（單身、離婚、鰥寡）
  • Name of Father / Mother：父親姓名／母親姓名
  • Date of Marriage：結婚日期
  • Place of Marriage：結婚地點
  • Official / Officiant：主禮人（法官、牧師等）
  • Register / Local Registrar：登記官

實務上，翻譯時可以在英文後加上中文說明，例如：
Groom (新郎)：[姓名]，讓閱讀者一眼就懂每個欄位代表的意思。

📌 四、以北卡州結婚證書為例：長版、欄位多的怎麼翻？

北卡州的結婚證書通常包含較多背景欄位，例如：

  • 雙方的「出生地」與「居住地址」
  • 雙方父母姓名與出生地
  • 種族（Race）、職業（Occupation）等

翻譯時的重點：

  1. 欄位順序要跟原件一樣：上到下、左到右，不自行調換。
  2. 欄位標題建議保留英文＋加上中文註解：例如「Race（種族）」。
  3. 若原文件有空白欄位，翻譯時可以標示為 “(blank)” 或 “(not stated)”：顯示你沒有遺漏，而是原件沒有填。
  4. 若有塗改、手寫註記，可在翻譯中加註：例如 “[handwritten note]”。

這類「長版結婚證書」，非常適合作為：

  • 長期居留／移民用文件
  • 保險、遺產、信託等需要「多一點背景資料」的案件

📌 五、以紐約市結婚註冊證明為例：簡短版本怎麼翻？

紐約市的 Certificate of Marriage Registration 欄位通常較少，常見內容包括：

  • 雙方姓名
  • 結婚日期
  • 登記日期、登記地點
  • 登記證書號碼（Registration Number）

這類文件的翻譯相對簡單，重點反而在於：

  • 確實抄寫證書號碼、日期（避免月／日顛倒）
  • 城市、州名翻譯一致，例如 New York, New York（紐約州紐約市）
  • 文件標題可以譯為：「結婚登記證明」或「結婚登記證書」，並保留英文原名在括號中

實務上，如果客戶同時擁有「長版」與「短版」結婚文件，一般會以內容較完整的那一份作為翻譯主體，另一份則使用簡短註解說明。

📌 六、範本一：一般版結婚證書翻譯格式（可依任何州調整）

下面是一份「教學用、可調整」的範本，你可以依實際內容取代中括號 [ ] 內文字：

結婚證書（翻譯本）
Marriage Certificate (Translated Copy)

新郎（Groom）：
  英文姓名（Name）：[FIRST MIDDLE LAST]
  出生日期（Date of Birth）：[Month Day, Year]
  出生地（Place of Birth）：[City, State/Country]
  住址（Residence）：[Full Address]

新娘（Bride）：
  英文姓名（Name）：[FIRST MIDDLE LAST]
  婚前姓氏（Maiden Name）：[Maiden Surname]
  出生日期（Date of Birth）：[Month Day, Year]
  出生地（Place of Birth）：[City, State/Country]
  住址（Residence）：[Full Address]

結婚資料（Marriage Details）：
  結婚日期（Date of Marriage）：[Month Day, Year]
  結婚地點（Place of Marriage）：[City, County, State]
  主禮人（Officiant）：[Name and Title]

登記資料（Registration Details）：
  登記機關（Register Office）：[Office / County / City]
  登記日期（Date of Registration）：[Month Day, Year]
  證書號碼（Certificate / Registration No.）：[Number]

備註（Remarks）：
  本翻譯係依照原始結婚證書內容逐字翻譯，如原件某些欄位為空白，
  則在翻譯中以「(blank)」或「(not stated)」表示。

⚠️ 這一份只是「一般版」，適合：

  • 保險公司參考用
  • 非移民用途、只需看懂內容之情況

若用於 USCIS 或法院等，通常會建議使用下一節的 Certified Translation 正式版本。

📌 七、範本二：Certified Translation 正式版（含翻譯者聲明）

以下是可於全美 50 州使用的標準格式，你可以在 Purser Services 的文件上稍作客製，例如加上 Logo、聯絡方式等：

Certified Translation of Marriage Certificate
結婚證書正式翻譯本

[在此貼上【範本一】的完整翻譯內容，可視需要調整格式]

----------------------------------------
Translator’s Certification / 翻譯者聲明

I, [Translator's Full Name], certify that I am fluent in both
English and Chinese, and that the foregoing is a complete and
accurate translation of the original marriage certificate issued by
[Issuing Authority, e.g., Wake County, North Carolina / City of New York].

本人 [翻譯者中文姓名] 聲明：本人精通中英文，上述內容係依據
[發證機關，例如：美國北卡羅來納州威克郡／美國紐約市] 所簽發之
結婚證書逐字翻譯而成，並為完整且正確之譯本。

Translator’s Name（翻譯者姓名）：[Name]
Signature（簽名）：____________________
Date（日期）：[Month Day, Year]
Contact Information（聯絡方式）：[Phone / Email / Address]

----------------------------------------
如若有需要公證（Notarization），可於本頁或另附 Notary 區塊，
由第三方 Notary 見證翻譯者簽名。

這一份就是實際可用來：

  • 申請移民、身份調整、入籍（取決於 USCIS 當時規定）
  • 向法院或政府機關提交中英文文件
  • 提供給保險公司、金融機構做正式紀錄

📌 八、何時該自己翻？何時建議交給專業翻譯處理？

如果是：

  • 純粹自己留底、家族紀錄
  • 只需要讓雙方家人看懂內容

你可以參考本文示例，自行翻譯、慢慢對照。

但若是以下情況，比較建議交給專業翻譯或文件服務：

  • 要送 USCIS、法院、州政府、學校等正式單位
  • 要作為保險、信託、遺產或重大財務決策的證明文件
  • 文件內容包含名字拼寫、日期、地址，任何錯誤都可能延誤案子

專業文件服務（例如 Purser Services）能幫你：

  • 逐行比對原文，避免遺漏欄位
  • 統一中英文姓名、地址與日期格式
  • 提供標準 Certified Translation 聲明，必要時搭配 Notary 公證

讓你在處理結婚、移民、保險、財務規劃時，不會卡在一張看不懂、翻不好的結婚證書上。

📌 九、北卡州（North Carolina）結婚證書樣式：空白模板示意

以下是參考北卡州長版結婚證書欄位，重建的「空白模板示意」。實際欄位名稱與排版會因年份、郡別略有不同，但結構大致類似：

-------------------------------------------------------
                 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
                    COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

                     CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE
-------------------------------------------------------
GROOM (新郎)
  Full Name: [GROOM FULL NAME]
  Date of Birth: [MM/DD/YYYY]
  Place of Birth: [CITY, STATE/COUNTRY]
  Race: [RACE]
  Residence: [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE ZIP]
  Marital Status: [Single / Divorced / Widowed]
  Occupation: [OCCUPATION]

BRIDE (新娘)
  Full Name: [BRIDE FULL NAME]
  Maiden Name: [BRIDE MAIDEN SURNAME]
  Date of Birth: [MM/DD/YYYY]
  Place of Birth: [CITY, STATE/COUNTRY]
  Race: [RACE]
  Residence: [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE ZIP]
  Marital Status: [Single / Divorced / Widowed]
  Occupation: [OCCUPATION]

PARENTS OF GROOM (新郎父母)
  Father’s Name: [FATHER NAME]
  Mother’s Name (Maiden): [MOTHER MAIDEN NAME]

PARENTS OF BRIDE (新娘父母)
  Father’s Name: [FATHER NAME]
  Mother’s Name (Maiden): [MOTHER MAIDEN NAME]

MARRIAGE DETAILS (結婚資料)
  Date of Marriage: [MM/DD/YYYY]
  Place of Marriage: [CITY, COUNTY, STATE]
  Officiant: [NAME AND TITLE]

REGISTRATION (登記資料)
  Certificate No.: [NUMBER]
  Date Filed: [MM/DD/YYYY]
  Local Registrar: [NAME]
-------------------------------------------------------

你可以把這個「空白樣式」當成參考，用來：

  • 比對你手上的北卡（或類似格式）結婚證書欄位
  • 訓練自己的 Agent 或團隊看懂每一欄的意義
  • 向客戶解釋：為什麼翻譯時不能亂省略、亂改欄位順序

📌 十、紐約市（New York City）結婚登記證明：空白模板示意

紐約市的 Certificate of Marriage Registration 格式相對簡短，以下是空白樣式重建示意：

-------------------------------------------------------
                CITY OF NEW YORK
         CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE REGISTRATION
-------------------------------------------------------
GROOM (新郎)
  Name: [GROOM FULL NAME]

BRIDE (新娘)
  Name: [BRIDE FULL NAME]

MARRIAGE INFORMATION (結婚資料)
  Date of Marriage: [MM/DD/YYYY]
  Place of Marriage: [BOROUGH / CITY, STATE]

REGISTRATION (登記資料)
  Registration No.: [NUMBER]
  Date of Registration: [MM/DD/YYYY]
  Issued By: [CITY CLERK OR REGISTRAR NAME]

NOTE:
  This certificate reflects the registration of a marriage
  recorded in the City of New York.
-------------------------------------------------------

這份簡短格式的特點是：

  • 欄位較少，翻譯時重點在「日期、名稱、證書號碼」要完全正確。
  • 可以搭配前面的「一般版翻譯格式」一起使用，必要時在翻譯中加註完整城市與州名。

📄✍️ How to Translate a Marriage Certificate? (North Carolina + New York Samples) — Includes Two Certified Translation Templates!

Many people only realize they need a translated marriage certificate when they apply for:

  • Insurance (adding a spouse to a policy, updating beneficiaries)
  • Immigration, green card, or naturalization
  • Banking, mortgage, trust, or estate planning
  • School, court, or other government agencies

At that moment, the questions usually are:

  • “Do I just need it in English?”
  • “Do I need a Certified Translation?”
  • “Can I translate it myself?”

This guide uses North Carolina and New York City style marriage documents as examples to walk you through:

  • What a marriage certificate is and common fields you will see
  • What “Certified Translation” means and when it is required
  • How to translate a longer, detailed North Carolina-style certificate
  • How to translate a shorter, New York registration-style certificate
  • Two ready-to-use templates (general translation + certified translation)

Note: This article is for educational purposes. All examples use neutral placeholder information. When you actually translate, you must carefully match every field in your own original document.

📌 1. First things first: What is a marriage certificate and what can it look like?

In the United States, different states and cities may use slightly different terms for their marriage documents, such as:

  • Marriage License – permission to marry, issued before the ceremony
  • Marriage Certificate – proof that the marriage took place
  • Certificate of Marriage Registration – used in some places (for example, New York City)

In this article:

  • North Carolina documents often have many fields, including both spouses’ names, maiden name, place of birth, race, occupation, address, marital status, and parents’ names.
  • New York City documents are usually shorter and focus on the spouses’ names, date of marriage, place of marriage, and registration information.

👉 The key principle for translation is: follow the original document field by field, without adding or deleting information.

📌 2. What is a “Certified Translation” and when is it required?

Some organizations only need to understand the content, but in many situations you will be specifically asked for a Certified Translation, such as:

  • USCIS immigration cases: spouse visas, adjustment of status, naturalization
  • Court cases: divorce, custody, inheritance or probate matters
  • Government agencies: Social Security Administration, state agencies, legal name changes
  • Certain insurance companies and financial institutions: to formally document marital status

A Certified Translation typically includes three elements:

  1. A complete, word-for-word translation of the original document (no sections omitted)
  2. A translator’s certification statement confirming accuracy and language ability
  3. The translator’s name, signature, date, and contact information; sometimes also a company letterhead

The translator does not necessarily have to be a Notary, but must be able to take responsibility for the accuracy of the translation.
If notarization is required, a Notary will usually notarize the translator’s signature, not the content itself.

📌 3. Common marriage certificate fields: quick English glossary

Below are some common fields you may see on North Carolina / New York style documents and their meanings:

  • Groom / Bride / Spouse – role of each party to the marriage
  • Name of Groom/Bride – full legal name
  • Maiden Name – birth surname before marriage (often for the bride)
  • Date of Birth – date of birth
  • Place of Birth – city, state, or country of birth
  • Residence / Address – current home address
  • Race – race category used by the issuing authority
  • Occupation – current job or profession
  • Marital Status – single, divorced, widowed, etc.
  • Name of Father / Mother – parents’ full names
  • Date of Marriage – date when the marriage took place
  • Place of Marriage – city, county, state where the marriage occurred
  • Official / Officiant – person who performed the marriage (judge, minister, etc.)
  • Register / Local Registrar – registration office or official who recorded the marriage

When translating into another language, it is often helpful to keep the English field name and then add the translation, for example:
Groom (新郎): [Name] or Date of Marriage（結婚日期）: [Month Day, Year]

📌 4. North Carolina example: how to handle a “long-form” marriage certificate

Many North Carolina marriage certificates contain extensive background fields, such as:

  • Each spouse’s place of birth and residence
  • Each spouse’s parents’ names and their birthplaces
  • Race, occupation, marital status, etc.

Key translation tips for long-form certificates:

  1. Follow the original order of fields: top to bottom, left to right. Do not rearrange sections.
  2. Keep field labels and add explanations only if needed: for example, you can keep “Race” and, in another language, add a brief note for clarity.
  3. For blank fields: if the original document leaves some fields empty, you may show this as (blank) or (not stated) so the reader knows nothing was omitted.
  4. For handwritten notes or corrections: you may add a small note like [handwritten note] or [correction in original] where appropriate.

Long-form certificates are especially useful when:

  • You need to show more background information for immigration or legal purposes
  • You are dealing with insurance, inheritance, or trust planning that cares about family relationships

📌 5. New York City example: how to handle a shorter “registration-style” certificate

A New York City Certificate of Marriage Registration usually has fewer fields, most commonly:

  • Names of both spouses
  • Date of marriage
  • Place of marriage (borough/city, state)
  • Registration number and date of registration

Because there are fewer elements, the main focus when translating is:

  • Copying the registration number and dates exactly (watch out for day/month order if translating into another language).
  • Writing the city and state consistently, for example: New York, New York.
  • Translating the title clearly, for example:
    • “Certificate of Marriage Registration (結婚登記證明)” when using bilingual output.

If a client has both a “long form” and a “short registration” document, it is common to:

  • Use the long form as the main source for translation, and
  • Attach or briefly describe the shorter registration certificate if required.

📌 6. Template 1: General marriage certificate translation (adaptable to any state)

Below is a neutral, text-based template that you can adapt by replacing the content inside [ ] with the actual information from the original certificate:

Marriage Certificate (Translated Copy)

Groom:
  Name: [GROOM FIRST MIDDLE LAST]
  Date of Birth: [Month Day, Year]
  Place of Birth: [City, State/Country]
  Residence: [Full Address]

Bride:
  Name: [BRIDE FIRST MIDDLE LAST]
  Maiden Name: [BRIDE MAIDEN SURNAME]
  Date of Birth: [Month Day, Year]
  Place of Birth: [City, State/Country]
  Residence: [Full Address]

Marriage Details:
  Date of Marriage: [Month Day, Year]
  Place of Marriage: [City, County, State]
  Officiant: [Name and Title]

Registration Details:
  Registering Office: [Office / County / City]
  Date of Registration: [Month Day, Year]
  Certificate / Registration No.: [Number]

Remarks:
  This translation is prepared based on the original marriage
  certificate. Any blank fields in the original document are
  indicated as "(blank)" or "(not stated)" in this translation.

⚠️ This general template is suitable when:

  • The recipient only needs to understand the content
  • The translation is for internal records or private reference

For USCIS, courts, or official agencies, you will usually need the Certified Translation format below.

📌 7. Template 2: Certified Translation format (with translator’s statement)

The following is a widely accepted certified translation format that can be used throughout the United States. You can add your business name, logo, or contact details as needed.

Certified Translation of Marriage Certificate

[Insert the full translated text from Template 1 here,
 formatted to match the structure of the original certificate.]

--------------------------------------------------
Translator’s Certification

I, [Translator's Full Name], certify that I am fluent in both
English and [Other Language], and that the foregoing is a complete
and accurate translation of the original marriage certificate issued by
[Issuing Authority, e.g., Wake County, North Carolina / City of New York].

Translator’s Name: [Name]
Signature: ____________________
Date: [Month Day, Year]
Contact Information: [Phone / Email / Address]

--------------------------------------------------
If notarization is required, a separate notarial certificate or a
notary block may be attached to this page to witness the translator’s signature.

This certified format is typically used for:

  • USCIS immigration and status adjustment filings (subject to current USCIS rules)
  • Court submissions or official legal proceedings
  • Financial, insurance, or estate planning cases that require official proof of marriage

📌 8. When can you translate it yourself, and when should you use a professional?

You may consider doing the translation yourself if:

  • The translation is only for personal or family records
  • The document is not being submitted to a government or legal authority
  • You are fluent in both languages and comfortable handling legal-style text

However, it is usually safer to use a professional document and translation service when:

  • The translation is going to USCIS, a court, a state agency, or a school
  • The document will be used as proof in an immigration, legal, or financial case
  • The names, dates, and addresses must be absolutely correct to avoid delays

A professional service can help you:

  • Check every line against the original document to avoid missing fields
  • Keep all names, addresses, and dates consistent across different documents
  • Prepare a proper Certified Translation statement, and arrange notarization if needed

This ensures you do not get stuck because of a marriage certificate that is hard to read, partially translated, or not accepted by the agency you are dealing with.

📌 9. North Carolina-style marriage certificate: blank template (layout example)

The following is a reconstructed blank template based on a typical North Carolina “long-form” certificate. The exact wording and layout may vary by county and year, but this gives you a realistic idea of how the document is structured:

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                 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
                    COUNTY OF [COUNTY]

                     CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE
-------------------------------------------------------
GROOM
  Full Name: [GROOM FULL NAME]
  Date of Birth: [MM/DD/YYYY]
  Place of Birth: [CITY, STATE/COUNTRY]
  Race: [RACE]
  Residence: [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE ZIP]
  Marital Status: [Single / Divorced / Widowed]
  Occupation: [OCCUPATION]

BRIDE
  Full Name: [BRIDE FULL NAME]
  Maiden Name: [BRIDE MAIDEN SURNAME]
  Date of Birth: [MM/DD/YYYY]
  Place of Birth: [CITY, STATE/COUNTRY]
  Race: [RACE]
  Residence: [STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE ZIP]
  Marital Status: [Single / Divorced / Widowed]
  Occupation: [OCCUPATION]

PARENTS OF GROOM
  Father’s Name: [FATHER NAME]
  Mother’s Name (Maiden): [MOTHER MAIDEN NAME]

PARENTS OF BRIDE
  Father’s Name: [FATHER NAME]
  Mother’s Name (Maiden): [MOTHER MAIDEN NAME]

MARRIAGE DETAILS
  Date of Marriage: [MM/DD/YYYY]
  Place of Marriage: [CITY, COUNTY, STATE]
  Officiant: [NAME AND TITLE]

REGISTRATION
  Certificate No.: [NUMBER]
  Date Filed: [MM/DD/YYYY]
  Local Registrar: [NAME]
-------------------------------------------------------

You can use this layout to:

  • Help your team or agents learn to recognize each type of field
  • Explain to clients why every line should be translated and not skipped
  • Design your own internal translation templates for long-form certificates

📌 10. New York City “Certificate of Marriage Registration”: blank template (layout example)

New York City’s Certificate of Marriage Registration is typically shorter. The following blank template shows a representative layout:

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                CITY OF NEW YORK
         CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE REGISTRATION
-------------------------------------------------------
GROOM
  Name: [GROOM FULL NAME]

BRIDE
  Name: [BRIDE FULL NAME]

MARRIAGE INFORMATION
  Date of Marriage: [MM/DD/YYYY]
  Place of Marriage: [BOROUGH / CITY, STATE]

REGISTRATION
  Registration No.: [NUMBER]
  Date of Registration: [MM/DD/YYYY]
  Issued By: [CITY CLERK OR REGISTRAR NAME]

NOTE:
  This certificate reflects the registration of a marriage
  recorded in the City of New York.
-------------------------------------------------------

Key features of this shorter format:

  • Fewer fields, so accuracy in names, numbers, and dates becomes even more important.
  • Often used as a concise proof of marriage, especially within New York.
  • Can be translated using the same general and certified templates shown above, with some sections marked “(not stated)” when no additional information is provided.