There are many reasons that someone may require you to provide documentation that has been officially translated. It could be that you are applying for a work visa and your birth certificate must be translated or you are looking to get married abroad and the country needs proof that you've been divorced in order for you to get married again. Whatever the reason you need an official translation, you need to make sure that the person carrying out your translation is certified according to the laws of the country where you are submitting the documentation. There are many instances where uncertified translators have bilked unsuspecting victims out of money for a translation that was officially useless. So watch your back and look out for true professionals only.