Qualified English-German translators in Hamburg

I'm looking for a vereidigt Dolmetscher / Übersetzer, an approved interpreter who can translate official documents from English into German. I have a birth certificate, marriage certificate and a set of divorce papers which needs to be translated for the Bezirksamt, the local authorities.

Preferably, I'd like to find someone who has translated divorce papers before and has experience with foreigners getting married in Germany and knows what information to pull out of these papers for the Bezirksamt.

I found a list of translators recommended by the Bezirksamt on the internet (www.dolmetscher.hamburg.de), but I'm not having very good luck with them:

1. The first one I called, Mary Frances Gilbert, told me flat out she wasn't interested in translating birth certificates and had better ways of spending her time.
2. I went to a place on the Colonnaden that quoted me € 630,
3. and then I went to a place called Kern who quoted me € 950, but probably more.

Does anyone out there have recent experience with this? These rates seem awfully high.

I know the toughest document to translate is the set of divorce papers, as it is 8 pages long.

I went back to the Bezirksamt today and the woman working there explained not all the information in the divorce papers was necessary, but she failed (refused) to give me a list of information actually needed. A list probably doesn't exist. She said to be on the safe side, I should have the whole kit and kaboodle translated into German. She said I could try to have only a summary translated with just the important dates, and it might be acceptable but I would run the risk of having to go back and have the whole document translated word for word if not acceptable.

Any ideas, TTs?

I'll ask my friends who just got married on Friday which translator they used.
Probably not the one who had lost their documents 2 1/2 years ago when they wanted their first daugther to be registered under the name of the Irish father when they were not yet married.

No problem I have everything you need, as I am still going through the terribly slow process of trying to get married, I am an EU citizen and we started our marriage procedure last November and still have not got 'permission to marry'.

Just in case you did not realise...
Firstly you have to take all your documents to London and get an official stamp from the British Authorities, this costs £27 per sheet (it gets really expensive) the website you should refer to is: Legalising Documents in Uk

Secondly, you will be asked to be able to 'prove' your ex-husband/wife nationality, how do you do this? It is difficult unless you are on good terms with them.

Thirdly, yes the translators - cough! We were given a list from Altona town hall on approved translators (you CANNOT use any other), this list was a little out of date, some translators were dead, some retired from doing the work etc. We found one lovely lady: Frau Sabine Geis, Joachimstrasse 2, 22609 Hamburg. tel: 80 99 51 90

Be warned!! Get very possible document stamped and translated - EVERYTHING, or you will be running in circles for months!
If you need any other advice please contact me, i would be very happy to help you!

Oops just realised that you are from the US, sorry! But I'm sure the process of getting your documents legalised is the same.

The quotes you have been given are high, but contact the lady I suggested and see what she offers you.