View source for Social:Hague Service Convention

{{Short description|1965 multilateral treaty}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox treaty
|name                = Hague Service Convention
|long_name           = Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters
|image               = Hague_Service_Convention_contracting_parties.svg
|caption             = {{legend|#00CC00|State party to the Convention}}{{legend|#ff9500|State ratified, not yet in force}}
|type                = 
|date_drafted        = 
|date_signed         = 15 November 1965
|location_signed     = {{Flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Place:The Hague|The Hague]]
|date_sealed         = 
|date_effective      = 10 February 1969
|condition_effective = 3 ratifications
|date_expiration     = 
|ratifiers           = 
|parties             = 82
|depositor           = Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
|languages           = English and French
|wikisource          = Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters
}}

The '''Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters''', more commonly called the '''Hague Service Convention''', is a multilateral treaty that was adopted in [[Place:The Hague|The Hague]], The Netherlands, on 15 November 1965 by member states of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. It came into existence to give litigants a reliable and efficient means of [[Social:Service of process|serving]] the documents on parties living, operating or based in another country. The provisions of the convention apply to service of process in civil and commercial matters but not criminal matters. Also, [https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/full-text/?cid=17 Article 1] states that the Convention shall not apply if the address of the person to be served with the document is not known.

== Diplomatic service via letters rogatory ==

For states that are not party to the Hague Service Convention, diplomatic channels are generally used for the service of legal documents. It is generally effected by a letter rogatory, which is a formal request to issue a judicial order from a court in the state where proceedings are underway to a court in another state. This procedure generally requires transmission of the document to be served from the originating court to the foreign ministry in the state of origin. The foreign ministry in the state of origin forwards the request to the foreign ministry in the destination state. The foreign ministry then forwards the documents to the local court. The local court then makes an order to allow for the service. Once service is made, a certificate of service would then pass through the same channels in reverse. Under a somewhat more streamlined procedure, courts can sometimes forward service requests to the foreign ministry or the foreign court directly, cutting out one or more steps in the process.

== Procedure ==
The Hague Service Convention established a more simplified means for parties to effect service in other contracting states. Under the convention, each contracting state is required to designate a central authority to accept incoming requests for service. A judicial officer who is competent to serve process in the state of origin is permitted to send request for service directly to the central authority of the state where service is to be made. Upon receiving the request, the central authority in the receiving state arranges for service in a manner permitted within the receiving state, typically through a local court. Once service is effected, the central authority sends a certificate of service to the judicial officer who made the request. Parties are required to use three standardized forms: a request for service, a summary of the proceedings (similar to a summons), and a certificate of service.

The main benefits of the Hague Service Convention over letters rogatory is that it is faster (requests generally take two to four months rather than six months to one year), it uses standardized forms that should be recognized by authorities in other states, and it is cheaper (in most cases) because service can be effected by a local attorney without hiring a foreign attorney to advise on foreign service procedures.

The Hague Service Convention does not prohibit a receiving state from permitting international service by methods otherwise authorized by domestic law. For example, a state could allow for service directly by mail or by personal service. States that permit parties to use these alternative means of service make a separate designation in the documents they file upon ratifying or acceding to the Convention.

== Alternate methods of service ==
The Hague Convention provides various modes of process service of documents such as by postal channel or by diplomatic/consular agents, judicial officers, officials or other competent persons. These provisions are covered under Articles 8 to 10 and may or not be allowed by member countries as a valid mode of serving the documents in their territory. The method of serving the documents through a central agency (Article 5) is not optional but is binding on all the member countries. Service through a central agency usually takes a long time: 4 to 12 months. The convention gives relief to the litigants if they have not received certificate of service or delivery from the central agency even after waiting for six months. In such cases, the court may, if it considers that a reasonable time has elapsed, give its judgment. Also, in case of urgency, the court may issue a provisional order or protective measure even before six-month waiting period.  
  
=== Central authority ===
Although the service is free, it may take 4 to 12 months for the central authority to process. The central authority decides which method is to be used. In many cases, a bailiff will be assigned by a local court to serve the documents and mail back the proof of service, but service by mail is also possible.<ref>{{cite web|title=International Service of Process in Hong Kong|url=https://plexus-pi.com/the-hague-convention/process-service-under-the-hague-convention/|website=www.plexus-pi.com|publisher=Plexus Investigative Solutions|access-date=22 May 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808080125/https://plexus-pi.com/the-hague-convention/process-service-under-the-hague-convention/|archive-date=8 August 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

=== Service by mail ===
Service by mail is possible only in states that have not objected to that method under Article 10(a) of the convention and if the jurisdiction where the court case takes place allows it under its applicable law. It is therefore possible in France and the Netherlands but not in Germany, Switzerland, and South Korea, where incoming service is to be effected exclusively through the state's central authority.<ref name="List of states">{{Cite web |url=https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=17 |title=Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters: Status table |publisher=Hague Conference on Private International Law |date=23 June 2023 |accessdate=3 January 2024}}</ref>

In the United States, the interpretation of a provision in Article 10(a) has long been controversial, as the judiciary in some of its jurisdictions contended that service by mail was impossible because the word "send" rather than "serve" was used in the English-language version of the convention. The matter was finally resolved in May 2017 by the US Supreme Court in ''Water Splash, Inc. v. Menon'', bringing the interpretation in line with parties in other US jurisdictions and the rest of the world.

== Relation with other instruments ==
Under the convention, states may conclude different agreements between them that take precedence over the convention. Thus, in the [[Social:European Union|European Union]] (except for {{wipe|Denmark}}) other rules are applied instead of the Convention.

==State parties==
{{As of|2023|August}}, 82 states are contracting parties of the Hague Service Convention.<ref name="List of states"/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! State party
! Signed
! Ratified or acceded
! Entry into force
|-
| {{Flag|Albania}}
| —
| {{Dts|2006|November|1|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2007|July|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Andorra}}
| —
| {{Dts|2017|April|26|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2017|December|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Antigua and Barbuda}}
| —
| {{Dts|1985|May|1|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1981|November|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Argentina}}
| —
| {{Dts|2001|February|2|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2001|December|2|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Armenia}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|name=Armenia/Azerbaijan|The provisions of the Convention do not apply between Armenia and Azerbaijan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Declarations to the Application of the Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters of Azerbaijan |url=https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/notifications/?csid=1506&disp=resdn |publisher=Hague Conference on Private International Law |access-date=2023-05-19}}</ref>}}
| —
| {{Dts|2012|June|27|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2013|February|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Australia}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|The Convention entered into force on 1 November 2010 for all of Australia's external territories.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Extension of Application of the Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters to Australian External Territories |url=http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.childstatus&cid=17&mid=1062 |publisher=Hague Conference on Private International Law |accessdate=2015-04-22}}</ref>}}
| —
| {{Dts|2010|March|15|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2010|November|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Austria}}
| {{Dts|2019|November|22|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2020|July|14|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2020|September|12|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Azerbaijan}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|name=Armenia/Azerbaijan}}
| —
| {{Dts|2023|February|17|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2023|September|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Bahamas|name=Bahamas, The}}
| —
| {{Dts|1997|June|17|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1998|February|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Barbados}}
| —
| {{Dts|1969|February|10|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1969|October|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Belarus}}
| —
| {{Dts|1997|June|6|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1998|February|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Belgium}}
| {{Dts|1966|January|21|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1970|November|19|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1971|January|18|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Belize}}
| —
| {{Dts|2009|September|8|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2010|May|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
| —
| {{Dts|2008|June|16|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2009|February|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Botswana}}
| —
| {{Dts|1969|February|10|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1969|September|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Brazil}}
| —
| {{Dts|2018|November|1|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2019|June|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Bulgaria}}
| —
| {{Dts|1999|November|23|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2000|August|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Canada}}
| —
| {{Dts|1998|September|26|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1999|May|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|China}}
| —
| {{Dts|1991|May|6|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1992|January|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Colombia}}
| —
| {{Dts|2013|April|10|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2013|November|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Costa Rica}}
| —
| {{Dts|2016|March|16|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2016|October|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Croatia}}
| —
| {{Dts|2006|February|28|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2006|November|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Cyprus}}
| —
| {{Dts|1982|October|26|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1983|June|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Czech Republic}}
| —
| {{Dts|1993|January|28|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1993|January|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Denmark}}
| {{Dts|1969|January|7|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1969|August|2|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1969|October|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Egypt}}
| {{Dts|1966|March|1|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1968|December|12|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1969|February|10|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Estonia}}
| —
| {{Dts|1996|February|2|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1996|October|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Finland}}
| {{Dts|1965|November|15|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1969|November|11|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1969|November|10|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|France}}
| {{Dts|1967|January|12|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1972|July|3|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1972|September|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Georgia}}
| —
| {{Dts|2021|May|31|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2022|January|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Germany}}
| {{Dts|1965|November|15|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1979|April|27|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1979|June|26|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Greece}}
| {{Dts|1983|July|20|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1983|July|20|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1983|September|18|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Hungary}}
| —
| {{Dts|2004|July|13|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2005|April|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Iceland}}
| —
| {{Dts|2008|November|10|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2009|July|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|India}}
| —
| {{Dts|2006|November|23|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2007|August|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Ireland}}
| {{Dts|1989|October|20|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1994|April|5|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1994|June|4|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Israel}}
| {{Dts|1965|November|25|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1972|August|14|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1972|October|13|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Italy}}
| {{Dts|1979|January|25|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1981|November|25|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1982|January|24|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Japan}}
| {{Dts|1970|March|12|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1970|May|28|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1970|July|27|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Kazakhstan}}
| —
| {{Dts|2015|October|15|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2016|June|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|South Korea|name=Korea, South}}
| —
| {{Dts|2000|January|13|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2000|August|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Kuwait}}
| —
| {{Dts|2002|May|8|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2002|December|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Latvia}}
| —
| {{Dts|1995|March|28|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1995|November|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Lithuania}}
| —
| {{Dts|2000|August|2|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2001|June|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Luxembourg}}
| {{Dts|1971|October|27|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1975|July|9|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1975|September|7|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Malawi}}
| —
| {{Dts|1972|April|24|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1972|December|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Malta}}
| —
| {{Dts|2011|February|1|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2011|October|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Marshall Islands}}
| —
| {{Dts|2020|July|29|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2021|February|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Mexico}}
| —
| {{Dts|1999|November|2|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2000|June|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Moldova}}
| —
| {{Dts|2012|July|4|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2013|February|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Monaco}}
| —
| {{Dts|2007|March|1|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2007|November|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Montenegro}}
| —
| {{Dts|2012|January|16|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2012|September|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Morocco}}
| —
| {{Dts|2011|March|24|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2011|November|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Kingdom of the Netherlands|name=Netherlands}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|The Convention entered into force on 27 July 1986 for Aruba.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Extension of Application of the Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters to Aruba |url=http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.childstatus&cid=17&mid=413 |publisher=Hague Conference on Private International Law |accessdate=2015-04-22}}</ref>}}
| {{Dts|1965|November|15|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1975|November|3|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1976|January|2|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Nicaragua}}
| —
| {{Dts|2019|July|24|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2020|February|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|North Macedonia}}
| —
| {{Dts|2008|December|23|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2009|September|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Norway}}
| {{Dts|1968|October|15|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1969|August|2|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1969|October|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Pakistan}}
| —
| {{Dts|1988|December|7|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1989|August|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Paraguay}}
| —
| {{Dts|2023|June|23|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2024|January|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Philippines}}
| —
| {{Dts|2020|March|3|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2020|October|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Poland}}
| —
| {{Dts|1996|February|13|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1996|September|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Portugal}}
| {{Dts|1971|July|5|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1973|December|27|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1974|February|25|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Romania}}
| —
| {{Dts|2003|August|21|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2004|April|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Russia}}
| —
| {{Dts|2001|May|1|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2001|December|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
| —
| {{Dts|2005|January|6|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1979|October|27|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|San Marino}}
| —
| {{Dts|2002|April|15|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2002|November|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Serbia}}
| —
| {{Dts|2010|July|2|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2011|February|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Seychelles}}
| —
| {{Dts|1980|November|18|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1981|July|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Singapore}}
| —
| {{Dts|2023|May|16|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2023|December|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Slovakia}}
| —
| {{Dts|1993|March|15|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1993|January|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Slovenia}}
| —
| {{Dts|2000|September|18|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2001|June|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Spain}}
| {{Dts|1976|October|21|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1987|June|4|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1987|August|3|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Sri Lanka}}
| —
| {{Dts|2000|August|31|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2001|June|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Sweden}}
| {{Dts|1969|February|4|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1969|August|2|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1969|October|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Switzerland}}
| {{Dts|1985|May|21|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1994|November|2|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1995|January|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Tunisia}}
| —
| {{Dts|2017|July|10|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2018|February|2|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Turkey}}
| {{Dts|1968|June|11|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1972|February|28|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1972|April|28|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Ukraine}}
| —
| {{Dts|2001|February|1|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2001|December|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|United Kingdom}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|The Convention entered into force on 19 July 1970 for Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the [[Finance:Cayman Islands|Cayman Islands]], the Falkland Islands, [[Place:Gibraltar|Gibraltar]], Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Jersey, Montserrat, the Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.<ref name="British territories">{{Cite web |title=Extension of Application of the Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters to British Territories |url=http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.childstatus&cid=17&mid=427 |publisher=Hague Conference on Private International Law |accessdate=2015-04-22}}</ref> It entered into force on 2 October 1982 for [[Biology:Anguilla|Anguilla]].<ref name="British territories"/>}}
| {{Dts|1965|December|10|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1967|November|17|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1969|February|10|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|United States}}{{Efn|group=upper-alpha|The Convention entered into force for the Northern Mariana Islands on 30 May 1994.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Extension of Application of the Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands |url=http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.childstatus&cid=17&mid=428 |publisher=Hague Conference on Private International Law |accessdate=2015-04-22}}</ref>}}
| {{Dts|1965|November|15|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1967|August|24|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1969|February|10|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Venezuela}}
| —
| {{Dts|1993|October|29|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|1994|July|1|format=dmy}}
|-
| {{Flag|Vietnam}}
| —
| {{Dts|2016|March|16|format=dmy}}
| {{Dts|2016|December|1|format=dmy}}
|}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist|group=upper-alpha|close}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.text&cid=17 Full text of the Convention]
*[http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.authorities&cid=17 List of central authorities designated by states parties]

[[Category:Civil procedure]]

{{Sourceattribution|Hague Service Convention}}