Selling a house in Poland, buying one in the UK? The translation of the notarial deed that you must have

A couple, after years of working in the United Kingdom, are selling a flat in Poland that was purchased before they moved abroad. At a notary’s office in Kraków, they sign a notarial deed – the entire document is in Polish, complete with stamps, clauses, and the full text of the sale agreement. The proceeds from the sale are deposited into a Polish bank account and from there transferred to an account in the UK, where they are to be used as a deposit for the purchase of a house. The solicitor handling the transaction in England requests proof of the source of these funds. A Polish notarial deed lands on his desk – entirely in Polish. The transaction stalls because the solicitor cannot accept a document they do not understand.

This is not a rare case. It is one of the most common scenarios encountered by Poles selling property in Poland in order to buy a house in the UK.

Why does a Polish notarial deed require translation in the UK – and what kind?

The British legal system is based on documenting the source of funds – the solicitor and the mortgage lender must be certain where the money for the purchase comes from. If the deposit comes from the sale of a property in Poland, the primary evidence is deed of sale for a house in Poland – a document drawn up by a Polish notary, entirely in Polish.

Translation of a house deed of sale It is not just a linguistic matter. The translator must faithfully reproduce not only the content of the agreement, but also notarial seals, clauses, the land and mortgage register number and the parties’ details, and finally attach a formal statement confirming the conformity of the translation with the original.

Which documents most frequently require translation?

When selling a house in Poland and purchasing a house in the UK, the list of documents to be translated can be longer than you expect. Most commonly, these are: the notarial deed from the sale of property in Poland as primary evidence of the source of funds, bank statements from the Polish account to which the funds from the sale were credited, bank certificates regarding the transfer – especially confirmations of international transfers from Poland to the UK, confirmations of specific transactions between accounts, as well as powers of attorney, if one of the parties to the transaction in Poland acted through an attorney.

Each of these documents has its own specific terminology. Bank statement translations require knowledge of both Polish and British financial terminology – Polish terms such as „księga wieczysta” or „wypis aktu notarialnego” must have precise equivalents in English that are understandable to a lawyer.

When to engage a translator – and how to choose the right one?

Too many clients approach a translator at the last minute, when a solicitor in the UK is already waiting for the documents. Good practice is simple: as soon as the sale in Poland is finalised, commission the translation of the notarial deed into English.

Translation of a notarial deed is a specialist who understands the realities of both systems – the Polish notarial system and the British legal property conveyancing system. When choosing, ask directly: has the translator previously translated notarial deeds for the purposes of transactions in the UK? Do they know what form of statement of truth is required by British solicitors and banks? Do they understand the context of the source of funds? Translation agencies specialising in legal and financial documents often work in close cooperation with notary offices in Poland and solicitors in the UK. They are familiar with the formal requirements of both parties and know how to format a translation so that it is immediately ready for submission to a bank.

Sequence matters

Selling a house in Poland and buying a house in the UK are complex processes, but they are easily manageable if you follow the correct order: first the notarial deed of sale in Poland, then a professional translation into English, and finally a solicitor and a bank in the UK with proof of origin of funds. When one element fails – most often the translation being provided too late – the entire purchasing chain in the UK comes to a halt. And the property market does not wait.

This article was prepared using artificial intelligence tools and is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, linguistic, or professional advice and cannot be treated as a substitute for consultation with a specialist. The author and publisher are not liable for decisions made based on the content provided herein. For matters requiring official translations or legal opinions, we recommend contacting a certified sworn translator or a legal advisor.