Interpreting Services

Private interpreting for personal matters

A qualified, discreet interpreter for your own appointments, from a meeting with your solicitor to a private medical consultation.

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Private interpreting is simply interpreting booked by you, for your own appointment, rather than by an employer or a public body. If you have an important meeting and English is not your first language, a private interpreter sits in with you and makes sure you follow every word and can say exactly what you mean.

Prism Linguistics arranges private interpreters across the UK in more than 300 languages. The setting may be more personal than a courtroom or a conference, but the interpreter is just as qualified, and your privacy is taken just as seriously.

When people come to us

Most people who book a private interpreter are facing one important appointment where a misunderstanding would matter. They want to walk in knowing they will understand what is said, and walk out knowing they were understood.

Often it is a legal matter: a meeting with a solicitor about a will, a divorce, a property purchase or an immigration application. Sometimes it is health: a private consultation, a second opinion, a conversation about a diagnosis that is too important to half-follow. It might be signing documents in front of a notary, attending a registrar's appointment before a wedding, or sitting down with a bank or a financial adviser.

Whatever it is, you should not have to rely on a relative or a friend to interpret something this important. A professional interpreter is neutral, accurate and discreet, and they free your family member to simply be there with you instead of working.

What we are asked for

Appointments we cover most often

Legal and solicitor meetings

Wills, divorce and family matters, property, immigration advice and other meetings with a solicitor or legal adviser.

Private medical appointments

Private consultations, second opinions and discussions about treatment, where understanding every detail matters.

Notary and document signing

Interpreting when you sign legal documents in front of a notary public or solicitor, so you know exactly what you are agreeing to.

Registrar and weddings

Notice of marriage appointments and ceremonies at a register office, where an independent interpreter is often required.

Property matters

Viewings, estate agent meetings, mortgage appointments and completion, when buying or renting a home.

Banks and personal finance

Opening accounts, mortgage or loan meetings and conversations with a financial adviser.

Discretion comes as standard

Personal appointments are personal. Every interpreter we send has signed a non-disclosure agreement, and nothing said during your appointment is repeated or recorded. Your contact details and the reason for your booking are handled in line with UK GDPR and seen only by the small team arranging your interpreter.

The interpreter's job is to relay, accurately and completely, what each side says. They will not give you advice, take sides or speak for you. The decisions stay yours. They are simply there so language never gets in the way of you making them.

Questions people ask

Private interpreting FAQs

Can an individual book an interpreter, or only organisations?
Anyone can book. Private interpreting is for individuals and families who need an interpreter for their own appointment, such as a meeting with a solicitor, a private medical consultation or a visit to a notary. You do not need to be a company or a public body.
Will my appointment be kept confidential?
Yes. Every interpreter works under a signed non-disclosure agreement, and anything said during your appointment stays private. We handle your details in line with UK GDPR and never discuss one client's matter with anyone else.
What kinds of personal appointments do you cover?
Common ones include solicitor and legal meetings, private medical and dental appointments, notary and document-signing visits, registrar appointments and weddings, property viewings and completions, and meetings with banks, schools or immigration advisers. If your appointment is not on that list, just ask.
How much does private interpreting cost?
It depends on the language, the location and how long the appointment is likely to take. There is usually a minimum booking to cover the interpreter's time and travel. Tell us the details and we will give you a clear price before you commit, with nothing hidden.
Can the same interpreter come to more than one appointment?
Where we can, yes. If your matter runs across several appointments, keeping the same interpreter means you do not have to explain your situation again each time. Let us know it is an ongoing matter and we will try to arrange that.

Have an appointment coming up?

Tell us the language, the date and what the appointment is for. We will arrange a qualified, discreet interpreter and give you a clear price first.