📄✍️ 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：
- 完整、逐字的翻譯文本（勿偷懶省略）
- 翻譯者聲明（Translator’s Certification Statement）
- 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：
- 欄位順序要跟原件一樣：上到下、左到右，不自行調換。
- 欄位標題建議保留英文＋加上中文註解：例如「Race（種族）」。
- 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。
- 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:
- A complete, word-for-word translation of the original document (no sections omitted)
- A translator’s certification statement confirming accuracy and language ability
- 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:
- Follow the original order of fields: top to bottom, left to right. Do not rearrange sections.
- 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.
- 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. - 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:
-------------------------------------------------------
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]
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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
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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.
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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.