About Duda

My story

I’m Duda. I’m Brazilian, I’m a qualified lawyer, and I live in Lisbon with my British husband and our son, who was born here.

I work in compliance and anti-money laundering, which means my day job involves regulatory processes, document verification, and getting details right at a level where mistakes have real consequences. That background turns out to be surprisingly useful when you’re handling legal documents and helping people deal with Portuguese institutions.

Why I started translating

When I married my British husband, I had to go through the full process of getting our documents translated, certified, and accepted by the Conservatória do Registo Civil in Cascais. Then our son was born, and we did it all again.

Even for someone who speaks the language and has a legal background, the process was confusing. The translation agencies I found were expensive, slow, and impersonal. I thought: I can do this better. I know the language, I know the law, and I know what it’s like to be on the other side of the counter.

So I started helping friends and friends-of-friends with their translations and interpretation. Word spread, and Duda Translations was born.

What I do

GOV.UK authorised translation (Portuguese to English). I’m listed on the UK government’s official directory of translators and interpreters for British nationals in Portugal. I personally translate Portuguese documents into English, and my translations are officially recognised by UK authorities. If you need a Portuguese birth certificate, marriage certificate, court order, or any other document accepted by HMRC, a UK solicitor, a UK court, or any UK institution, I handle that directly.

Certified translation for Portugal (English to Portuguese). I handle the full process of getting your foreign documents translated and certified for Portuguese authorities. All translations are certified by a Portuguese lawyer, as required by Portuguese law, and accepted by AIMA, the Conservatória, IRN, courts, notaries, and banks across Portugal. You deal with me throughout. One point of contact, one price, and a document ready for submission.

In-person interpretation. I interpret at wedding ceremonies, AIMA appointments, Conservatória visits, notary signings, medical appointments, court and legal proceedings, business meetings, and everyday situations across Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra, Oeiras, and the surrounding area. I speak both languages fluently, and I understand the context behind what’s being said, not just the words.

What sets me apart

I handle everything personally. When you work with me, you work with me. I’m available on WhatsApp to answer questions, explain processes, and help you work out what you actually need. You won’t be passed to a different person or put in a queue.

I’m a qualified lawyer. I trained and practised law in Brazil. I understand the legal context behind every document I handle and every appointment I interpret at. When an AIMA officer raises a question or a notary reads a clause, I don’t just translate the words. I understand the substance.

I’ve been through it myself. I’ve sat in the Conservatória with my own documents. I’ve navigated the visa process, the marriage registration, the birth registration, the tax office, the banks. I know what gets accepted and what gets questioned because I’ve experienced both.

I work in compliance and AML. My day-to-day work involves regulatory processes and document verification at the highest level. The attention to detail that compliance demands is the same attention I bring to every translation and every appointment.

I respond fast. You deal directly with me, and I reply within hours, not days. Most translations are delivered within 48 hours.