Terms & Conditions
1. Services
The Interpreter provides professional French-English oral interpretation services, including but not limited to: Services include depositions (witness, plaintiff, defendant, and expert), court hearings (civil, criminal, family, and immigration), client intake consultations and attorney-client meetings, victim and witness interviews, case preparation meetings, settlement conferences and mediation, sight translation (oral rendering of written documents in real time), foreign-language document and evidence review alongside counsel, and review of recorded evidence (audio and video) alongside counsel.
All services consist of oral interpretation only. These Terms do not cover certified document translation or legal advice, which are expressly excluded from the scope of services. Any additional services requested at the time of assignment that fall outside this scope will be discussed and agreed upon separately before being rendered.
Recording and Streaming: The Client must notify the Interpreter in advance if any session is to be recorded, streamed, or broadcast in any format. The Interpreter reserves the right to decline participation in recorded or streamed sessions not disclosed at the time of booking, without penalty.
2. Booking and Confirmation
Bookings may be made online via the Interpreter's scheduling platform or by direct contact. A booking is confirmed only upon receipt of confirmation from the Interpreter, or upon successful completion of online booking and payment where applicable.
For standard assignments, a minimum notice period of 48 hours is required. For last-minute assignments, minimum notice periods apply as follows: remote assignments require a minimum of 1 hour's notice, subject to availability; in-person assignments require a minimum of 2 hours' notice, subject to availability and travel time from Annapolis, Maryland.
Last-minute in-person bookings are not automatically confirmed. The Interpreter will review the request and confirm availability, taking travel time into account. Payment for last-minute in-person assignments is collected upon confirmation.
Right to Withdraw: The Interpreter reserves the right to withdraw from an assignment without penalty if: (a) the scope of the assignment changes materially on the day without prior agreement; or (b) the working conditions are unsafe, unprofessional, or incompatible with the Interpreter's professional obligations. In such cases, fees for time already worked will remain due.
Force Majeure: Neither party shall be held liable for failure to perform their obligations under these Terms where such failure results from circumstances beyond their reasonable control, including but not limited to illness, natural disasters, court closures, government orders, or technical failure affecting remote interpretation platforms. In such cases, the affected party shall notify the other as promptly as possible. Rescheduling will be arranged where feasible. Fees already collected for remote assignments will be applied to the rescheduled session or refunded at the Interpreter's discretion.
3. Rates & Payment Terms
Rates are provided upon request and confirmed in writing at the time of booking. Rates vary depending on assignment type, duration, notice period, and location.
Minimum bookings: In-person assignments require a 2-hour minimum. Remote assignments require a 1-hour minimum. Full-day assignments cover up to 8 hours, with overtime billed in 30-minute increments at the applicable hourly rate.
Additional fees: A travel fee applies to in-person assignments located more than 25 miles from Annapolis, Maryland. The Client will be informed of any applicable travel fees at the time of booking confirmation. Parking and toll fees are billed at cost for in-person assignments.
Remote assignments: Payment for remote assignments is collected in full at the time of booking. Scheduling is confirmed upon successful processing of payment. No reservation is held until payment is received.
In-person assignments: Invoices are issued following completion of the assignment. Payment is due within 15 days of the invoice date unless otherwise agreed in writing. Late payments beyond 30 days are subject to a 5% monthly late fee.
Last-minute in-person assignments: Payment is collected upon confirmation of the assignment by the Interpreter, not at the time of the booking request.
Overtime: Should an assignment extend beyond the booked duration, overtime is billed in 30-minute increments at the applicable hourly rate. Overtime charges are added to the invoice for in-person assignments, or invoiced separately following the session for remote assignments where prepayment was collected at booking.
General: Accepted payment methods include bank transfer and credit card. W-9 available upon request.
4. Confidentiality
The Interpreter acknowledges the confidential nature of all communications, documents, testimony, and information encountered in the course of any assignment and agrees to maintain strict confidentiality in accordance with the professional standards of the Maryland Judiciary interpreter program and applicable rules of professional conduct. This obligation continues after the conclusion of any assignment.
5. Limitation of Liability
The Interpreter's liability in connection with any assignment is limited to the fees paid for that assignment. The Interpreter is not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the provision of services.
6. Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland. Any disputes arising under these terms shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
The Interpreter reserves the right to update these Terms and Conditions at any time. The version in effect at the time of booking applies to that assignment. Current Terms are always available on the Interpreter's website.
French Court Interpreter Maryland - Terms & Conditions - Last updated: July 2026