AllegroTrans Feb 1:

Asker Two of us are asking you for more context. If you want help you really need to provide it. Thank you.

AllegroTrans Jan 31:

@ Catherine Who is "Yo, [NAME]... etc."? The Judge or someone else? Please tell us more about your document, it's important context

Taña Dalglish Jan 31:

@ Catherine
More example of "Su Despacho" (www.proz.com/search (for "su despacho").
1. https://tureng.com/en/spanish-english/su despacho (by hand)
2. https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish-to-english/law-patents/40... (hand-delivered)
3. https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish-to-english/law-general/77...
Su despacho ("by hand" pero puede omitirse)
4. https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish-to-english/business-comme... (Your office) [However, not fond of this version].

Taña Dalglish Jan 31:

@ Catherine 1. I think Manuel's answer (previous entry) was one way of dealing with that question, but using the city, but I am not convinced by the answer in the previous question, but it is not for me to question the Asker's choice.
2. I do think you are overthinking the situation. Re: "Do you mean that by putting the City, it just means that the person attended that particular court in person and made the declaration (sort of by hand)?". I honestly can't answer you, as I have no idea regarding the context of your document.
3. For what it is worth, here is an example: https://www.scribd.com/document/450900592/PRESENTACION-PRUEB...
4. I am inclined to still go with "hand-delivered."
5. @Lisa Rosengard: https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish-to-english/law-contracts/... Here, and as customary, the term "Ciudadano" while a formal form of address is rarely translated, i.e. it is usually omitted completely, as it does not materially alter the translation, but that is just my opinion, and what I have seen many times here on ProZ. "Ciudadano" is just omitted altogether.

Lisa Rosengard Jan 30:

Previously I understood that the title at the letterhead is 'citizen', since the letterhead doesn't name an individual person. i read that it's a polite form of address. In old-fashioned English it could be 'fellow citizen, nobleman or country-man'. It's from a town council municipal office with an 'executor'. I think he's a person who makes sure that essential work is completed, or just a managing director. The town council is based in a second district or circuit of a constituency or an area where voters take part in local elections. The memo or form to complete is sent from the town council or municipal office.

Catherine Mactaggart (asker) Jan 30:

I suppose I don't really follow why it makes sense to replace "by hand" with the name of the city. It makes more sense to me now that I understand that the Court is the addressee,rather than the one producing the document. It's a statement from an individual, regarding their land occupation / claimed ownership, made to the court.

But I suppose I'm confused because it's still in the type and format of many other documents, so it doesn't look to have been printed up at home and delivered. by hand. to the court. I'd assume it was possibly declared and drafted at or by the court with the individual. Maybe I'm overthinking this, I don't know. Do you mean that by putting the City, it just means that the person attended that particular court in person and made the declaration (sort of by hand)?

Taña Dalglish Jan 30:

@ Catherine Normally, "su despacho" would be "by hand". I think what Manuel was suggesting as included in the link I sent was to replace by hand with the name of the relevant city. Personally, I would have use "by hand" or "hand-delivered", although there appears to be a question in your mind regarding this particular rendition as you stated, "but from who to whom". Here is another link: https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish-to-english/business-comme... which suggests "Your Office", but I don't care too much for this choice. Here is another which suggests the very term I used "hand-delivered." https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish-to-english/law-patents/40...
Regards.

Catherine Mactaggart (asker) Jan 30:

@ Tana (sorry can't get my keyboard to do diacritics) I think you're right about omitting the 'Ciudadano", I've come to that conclusion also.

I'm looking at the other link you included. I see that it's a very similar example. i still don't really follow the explanation, but perhaps I need to finish the translation first to understand the context better. Thanks

Taña Dalglish Jan 30:

@ Catherine There is an entry here which suggests, here, "Su Despacho" means that the communication is delivered at the addressee’s office and as Manuel proposed in his response, he would say, "Caracas” (or whatever the city may be). I would also just omit "Ciudadano". https://www.proz.com/kudoz/spanish-to-english/law-general/89...

Catherine Mactaggart (asker) Jan 30:

Thanks. I know that 'by hand' has been discussed but are you sure that applies here? It's a printed document from the local court discussing property ownership. That's not to say it couldn't have been delivered by hand, but from who to whom?

That's really why I'm asking because in the context given, where 'Su dispacho" is preceded by the courts title followed by the land owner's declaration it seems a bit incongruous.

philgoddard Jan 30:

We already know from several glossary entries that 'su despacho' means 'by hand'. I'm not sure about 'ciudadano', but could it have been left in by mistake because it's normally followed by the name of an individual? 'Ciudadano' is a polite form of address in Venezuela.