Source: http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/rules/part06
Timestamp: 2015-04-28 00:33:06
Document Index: 647231094

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 6', 'ART 6', 'art 54', 'art 55', 'art 54', 'art 66', 'art 21', 'art 42', 'art 42', 'art 10', 'art 14', 'art 15', 'art 7', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'ART 6']

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PRACTICE DIRECTION 6A – SERVICE WITHIN THE UNITED KINGDOMPRACTICE DIRECTION 6B – SERVICE OUT OF THE JURISDICTION	Home
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II SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM IN THE JURISDICTION OR IN SPECIFIED CIRCUMSTANCES WITHIN THE EEA
Who is to serve the claim form
Where to serve the claim form – general provisions
Service on a solicitor or European Lawyer within the United Kingdom or in any other EEA state
Service of the claim form where the defendant does not give an address at which the defendant may be served
Service of the claim form in proceedings against the Crown
Service of the claim form relating to a contract on an agent of a principal who is out of the jurisdiction
Service of the claim form on children and protected parties
Rule 6.18
Rule 6.19
III SERVICE OF DOCUMENTS OTHER THAN THE CLAIM FORM IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OR IN SPECIFIED
CIRCUMSTANCES WITHIN THE EEA
Rule 6.21
Address for service to be given after proceedings are started
Rule 6.26
Rule 6.27
Rule 6.29
IV SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM AND OTHER DOCUMENTS OUT OF THE JURISDICTION
Rule 6.31
Service of the claim form where the permission of the court is not required – Scotland and Northern Ireland
Rule 6.32
Service of the claim form where the permission of the court is not required – out of the United Kingdom
Rule 6.33
Rule 6.34
Rule 6.35
Rule 6.36
Service of documents other than the claim form – permission
Rule 6.38
Service of application notice on a non-party to the proceedings
Methods of service – general provisions
Rule 6.41
Rule 6.42
Rule 6.43
Service of claim form or other document on a State
Rule 6.44
Translation of claim form or other document
Rule 6.45
Undertaking to be responsible for expenses
Rule 6.47
V SERVICE OF DOCUMENTS FROM FOREIGN COURTS OR TRIBUNALS
Rule 6.48
Rule 6.50
Rule 6.52
(Other Parts, for example, Part 54 (Judicial Review) and Part 55 (Possession Claims) contain specific provisions about service.)
6.2 In this Part –
(a) ‘bank holiday’ means a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 19711 in the part of the United Kingdom where service is to take place;
(b) ‘business day’ means any day except Saturday, Sunday, a bank holiday, Good Friday or Christmas Day;
(c) ‘claim’ includes petition and any application made before action or to commence proceedings and ‘claim form’, ‘claimant’ and ‘defendant’ are to be construed accordingly;
(d) ‘solicitor’ includes any other person who, for the purposes of the Legal Services Act 2007, is an authorised person in relation to an activity which constitutes the conduct of litigation (within the meaning of that Act); and
(e) ‘European Lawyer’ has the meaning set out in article 2 of the European Communities (Services of Lawyers) Order 1978 (S. I. 1978/1910).
(The European Communities (Services of Lawyers) Order 1978 is annexed to Practice Direction 6A.)
(b) by any of the methods of service permitted under the Companies Act 20062.
(b) by any of the methods of service permitted under the Companies Act 20063 as applied with modification by regulations made under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 20004.
(3) Where the court is to serve the claim form, the claimant must, in addition to filing a copy for the court, provide a copy for each defendant to be served.
(4) Where the court has sent –
(a) a notification of outcome of postal service to the claimant in accordance with rule 6.18; or
(b) a notification of non-service by a bailiff in accordance with rule 6.19,
the court will not try to serve the claim form again.
(1) Where required by another Part, any other enactment, a practice direction or a court order, a claim form must be served personally.
(2) In other cases, a claim form may be served personally except –
(a) where rule 6.7 applies; or
(b) in any proceedings against the Crown.
(Part 54 contains provisions about judicial review claims and Part 66 contains provisions about Crown proceedings.)
(3) A claim form is served personally on –
(a) an individual by leaving it with that individual;
(b) a company or other corporation by leaving it with a person holding a senior position within the company or corporation; or
(c) a partnership (where partners are being sued in the name of their firm) by leaving it with –
(i) a partner; or
(ii) a person who, at the time of service, has the control or management of the partnership business at its principal place of business.
(Practice Direction 6A sets out the meaning of ‘senior position’.)
(1) The claim form must be served within the jurisdiction except where rule 6.7(2), 6.7(3) or 6.11 applies or as provided by Section IV of this Part.
(2) The claimant must include in the claim form an address at which the defendant may be served. That address must include a full postcode or its equivalent in any EEA state (if applicable), unless the court orders otherwise.
(Paragraph 2.4 of Practice Direction 16 contains provisions about postcodes.)
(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply where an order made by the court under rule 6.15 (service by an alternative method or at an alternative place) specifies the place or method of service of the claim form.
(‘Solicitor’ has the extended meaning set out in rule 6.2(d).)
(2) Solicitor in Scotland or Northern Ireland or EEA state other than the United Kingdom: Subject to rule 6.5(1) and the provisions of Section IV of this Part, and except where any other rule or practice direction makes different provision, where –
(a) the defendant has given in writing the business address in Scotland or Northern Ireland of a solicitor as an address at which the defendant may be served with the claim form;
(aa) a solicitor acting for the defendant has notified the claimant in writing that the solicitor is instructed by the defendant to accept service of the claim form on behalf of the defendant at a business address within Scotland or Northern Ireland;
(b) the defendant has given in writing the business address within any other EEA state of a solicitor as an address at which the defendant may be served with the claim form; or
(c) a solicitor acting for the defendant has notified the claimant in writing that the solicitor is instructed by the defendant to accept service of the claim form on behalf of the defendant at a business address within any other EEA state,
(3) European Lawyer in any EEA state: Subject to rule 6.5(1) and the provisions of Section IV of this Part, and except where any other rule or practice direction makes different provision, where –
(a) the defendant has given in writing the business address of a European Lawyer in any EEA state as an address at which the defendant may be served with the claim form; or
(b) a European Lawyer in any EEA state has notified the claimant in writing that the European Lawyer is instructed by the defendant to accept service of the claim form on behalf of the defendant at a business address of the European Lawyer,
the claim form must be served at the business address of that European Lawyer.
(‘European Lawyer’ has the meaning set out in rule 6.2(e).)
(a) rule 6.5(1) (personal service);
(b) rule 6.7 (service of claim form on solicitor or European Lawyer); and
(c) rule 6.8 (defendant gives address at which the defendant may be served),
do not apply and the claimant does not wish to effect personal service under rule 6.5(2).
(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) to (6), the claim form must be served on the defendant at the place shown in the following table.
Nature of defendant to be served Place of service
(b) cannot ascertain an alternative place or an alternative method under paragraph (4)(b).
6.10 In proceedings against the Crown –
(a) service on the Attorney General must be effected on the Treasury Solicitor; and
(b) service on a government department must be effected on the solicitor acting for that department.
(Practice Direction 66 gives the list published under section 17 of the Crown Proceedings Act 19476 of the solicitors acting in civil proceedings (as defined in that Act) for the different government departments on whom service is to be effected, and of their addresses.)
(a) a contract contains a term providing that, in the event of a claim being started in relation to the contract, the claim form may be served by a method or at a place specified in the contract; and
(b) a claim solely in respect of that contract is started,
the claim form may, subject to paragraph (2), be served on the defendant by the method or at the place specified in the contract.
(2) Where in accordance with the contract the claim form is to be served out of the jurisdiction, it may be served –
(a) if permission to serve it out of the jurisdiction has been granted under rule 6.36; or
(b) without permission under rule 6.32 or 6.33.
(1) The court may, on application, permit a claim form relating to a contract to be served on the defendant’s agent where –
(a) the defendant is out of the jurisdiction;
(b) the contract to which the claim relates was entered into within the jurisdiction with or through the defendant's agent; and
(c) at the time of the application either the agent’s authority has not been terminated or the agent is still in business relations with the defendant.
(2) An application under this rule –
(a) must be supported by evidence setting out –
(i) details of the contract and that it was entered into within the jurisdiction or through an agent who is within the jurisdiction;
(ii) that the principal for whom the agent is acting was, at the time the contract was entered into and is at the time of the application, out of the jurisdiction; and
(iii) why service out of the jurisdiction cannot be effected; and
(3) An order under this rule must state the period within which the defendant must respond to the particulars of claim.
(4) Where the court makes an order under this rule –
(a) a copy of the application notice and the order must be served with the claim form on the agent; and
(b) unless the court orders otherwise, the claimant must send to the defendant a copy of the application notice, the order and the claim form.
(5) This rule does not exclude the court’s power under rule 6.15 (service by an alternative method or at an alternative place).
(1) Where the defendant is a child who is not also a protected party, the claim form must be served on –
(2) Where the defendant is a protected party, the claim form must be served on –
(a) one of the following persons with authority in relation to the protected party as –
(3) Any reference in this Section to a defendant or a party to be served includes the person to be served with the claim form on behalf of a child or protected party under paragraph (1) or (2).
(4) The court may make an order permitting a claim form to be served on a child or protected party, or on a person other than the person specified in paragraph (1) or (2).
(6) The court may order that, although a claim form has been sent or given to someone other than the person specified in paragraph (1) or (2), it is to be treated as if it had been properly served.
(7) This rule does not apply where the court has made an order under rule 21.2(3) allowing a child to conduct proceedings without a litigation friend.
(Part 21 contains rules about the appointment of a litigation friend and ‘child’ and ‘protected party’ have the same meaning as in rule 21.1.)
(3) The certificate of service must state –
(a) where rule 6.7, 6.8, 6.9 or 6.10 applies, the category of address at which the claimant believes the claim form has been served; and
(b) the details set out in the following table.
Date of personal service.
Date of posting, or
leaving with, delivering to or collection by the relevant service provider.
Date when the document was delivered to or left at the permitted place.
Date of completion of the transmission.
Date of sending the e-mail or other electronic transmission.
6. Alternative method or place
6.19 Where –
(a) the court bailiff is to serve a claim form; and
(b) the bailiff is unable to serve it on the defendant,
the court will send notification to the claimant.
III SERVICE OF DOCUMENTS OTHER THAN THE CLAIM FORM IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OR IN SPECIFIED CIRCUMSTANCES WITHIN THE EEA
(1) Subject to Section IV of this Part and the rules in this Section relating to service out of the jurisdiction on solicitors, European Lawyers and parties, a document may be served by any of the following methods –
(a) personal service, in accordance with rule 6.22;
(c) leaving it at a place specified in rule 6.23;
(e) any method authorised by the court under rule 6.27.
(b) by any of the methods of service permitted under the Companies Act 2006.
(b) by any of the methods of service permitted under the Companies Act 2006 as applied with modification by regulations made under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000.
(1) Subject to Section IV of this Part and the rules in this Section relating to service out of the jurisdiction on solicitors, European Lawyers and parties, a party to proceedings will serve a document which that party has prepared except where –
(2) The court will serve a document which it has prepared except where –
(a) a rule or practice direction provides that a party must serve the document;
(b) the party on whose behalf the document is to be served notifies the court that the party wishes to serve it; or
(3) Where the court is to serve a document, it is for the court to decide which method of service is to be used.
(4) Where the court is to serve a document prepared by a party, that party must provide a copy for the court and for each party to be served.
(2) In other cases, a document may be served personally except –
(a) where the party to be served has given an address for service under rule 6.23; or
(b) in any proceedings by or against the Crown.
(3) A document may be served personally as if the document were a claim form in accordance with rule 6.5(3).
(1) A party to proceedings must give an address at which that party may be served with documents relating to those proceedings. The address must include a full postcode or its equivalent in any EEA state (if applicable) unless the court orders otherwise.
(2) Except where any other rule or practice direction makes different provision, a party’s address for service must be –
(b) the business address in any EEA state of a European Lawyer nominated to accept service of documents; or
(c) where there is no solicitor acting for the party or no European Lawyer nominated to accept service of documents –
(i) an address within the United Kingdom at which the party resides or carries on business; or
(ii) an address within any other EEA state at which the party resides or carries on business.
(For Production Centre Claims see paragraph 2.3(7) and (7A) of Practice Direction 7C; for Money Claims Online see paragraph 4(3A) and (6) of Practice Direction 7E; and for Possession Claims Online see paragraph 5.1(3A) and (4) of Practice Direction 55B.)
(3) Where none of sub-paragraphs (2)(a), (b) or (c) applies, the party must give an address for service within the United Kingdom.
(Part 42 contains provisions about change of solicitor. Rule 42.1 provides that where a party gives the business address of a solicitor as that party’s address for service, that solicitor will be considered to be acting for the party until the provisions of Part 42 are complied with.)
(5) Where, in accordance with Practice Direction 6A, a party indicates or is deemed to have indicated that they will accept service by fax, the fax number given by that party must be at the address for service.
(6) Where a party indicates in accordance with Practice Direction 6A that they will accept service by electronic means other than fax, the e-mail address or electronic identification given by that party will be deemed to be at the address for service.
(7) In proceedings by or against the Crown, service of any document in the proceedings on the Crown must be effected in the same manner prescribed in rule 6.10 as if the document were a claim form.
(8) This rule does not apply where an order made by the court under rule 6.27 (service by an alternative method or at an alternative place) specifies where a document may be served.
(1) An application for an order appointing a litigation friend where a child or protected party has no litigation friend must be served in accordance with rule 21.8(1) and (2).
(2) Any other document which would otherwise be served on a child or a protected party must be served on the litigation friend conducting the proceedings on behalf of the child or protected party.
(3) The court may make an order permitting a document to be served on the child or protected party or on some person other than the person specified in rule 21.8 or paragraph (2).
(4) An application for an order under paragraph (3) may be made without notice.
(5) The court may order that, although a document has been sent or given to someone other than the person specified in rule 21.8 or paragraph (2), the document is to be treated as if it had been properly served.
(6) This rule does not apply where the court has made an order under rule 21.2(3) allowing a child to conduct proceedings without a litigation friend.
(Paragraphs 10.1 to 10.7 of Practice Direction 6A contain examples of how the date of deemed service is calculated.)
6.27 Rule 6.15 applies to any document in the proceedings as it applies to a claim form and reference to the defendant in that rule is modified accordingly.
(1) The court may dispense with service of any document which is to be served in the proceedings.
(2) An application for an order to dispense with service must be supported by evidence and may be made without notice.
6.30 This Section contains rules about –
(a) service of the claim form and other documents out of the jurisdiction;
(b) when the permission of the court is required and how to obtain that permission; and
(‘Jurisdiction’ is defined in rule 2.3(1).)
(a) ‘the Hague Convention’ means the Convention on the service abroad of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters signed at the Hague on 15 November 19657;
(b) ‘the 1982 Act’ means the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Act 19828;
(c) ‘Civil Procedure Convention’ means the Brussels and Lugano Conventions (as defined in section 1(1) of the 1982 Act) and any other Convention (including the Hague Convention) entered into by the United Kingdom regarding service out of the jurisdiction;
(d) 'the Judgments Regulation' means Regulation (EU) No. 1215/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2012 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (recast)9, as amended from time to time and as applied pursuant to the Agreement made on 19 October 2005 between the European Community and the Kingdom of Denmark on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters10;
(e) ‘the Service Regulation’ means Regulation (EC) No. 1393/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2007 on the service in the Member States of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters (service of documents)11, and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No. 1348/200012, as amended from time to time and as applied by the Agreement made on 19 October 2005 between the European Community and the Kingdom of Denmark on the service of judicial and extrajudicial documents on civil and commercial matters13;
(f) ‘Commonwealth State’ means a state listed in Schedule 3 to the British Nationality Act 198114;
(g) ‘Contracting State’ has the meaning given by section 1(3) of the 1982 Act;
(h) ‘Convention territory’ means the territory or territories of any Contracting State to which the Brussels or Lugano Conventions (as defined in section 1(1) of the 1982 Act) apply; and
(i) ‘domicile’ is to be determined –
(i) in relation to a Convention territory, in accordance with sections 41 to 46 of the 1982 Act; and
(ii) in relation to a Member State, in accordance with the Judgments Regulation and paragraphs 9 to 12 of Schedule 1 to the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments Order 200115.
(j) ‘the Lugano Convention’ means the Convention on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway, the Swiss Confederation and the Kingdom of Denmark and signed by the European Community on 30th October 2007.
(1) The claimant may serve the claim form on a defendant in Scotland or Northern Ireland where each claim made against the defendant to be served and included in the claim form is a claim which the court has power to determine under the 1982 Act and –
(a) no proceedings between the parties concerning the same claim are pending in the courts of any other part of the United Kingdom; and
(i) the defendant is domiciled in the United Kingdom;
(ii) the proceedings are within paragraph 11 of Schedule 4 to the 1982 Act; or
(iii) the defendant is a party to an agreement conferring jurisdiction, within paragraph 12 of Schedule 4 to the 1982 Act.
(2) The claimant may serve the claim form on a defendant in Scotland or Northern Ireland where each claim made against the defendant to be served and included in the claim form is a claim which the court has power to determine under any enactment other than the 1982 Act notwithstanding that –
(1) The claimant may serve the claim form on the defendant out of the United Kingdom where each claim against the defendant to be served and included in the claim form is a claim which the court has power to determine under the 1982 Act or the Lugano Convention and –
(a) no proceedings between the parties concerning the same claim are pending in the courts of any other part of the United Kingdom or any other Convention territory; and
(i) the defendant is domiciled in the United Kingdom or in any Convention territory;
(ii) the proceedings are within article 16 of Schedule 1 to the 1982 Act or article 22 of the Lugano Convention; or
(iii) the defendant is a party to an agreement conferring jurisdiction, within article 17 of Schedule 1 to the 1982 Act or article 23 of the Lugano Convention.
(2) The claimant may serve the claim form on a defendant out of the United Kingdom where each claim made against the defendant to be served and included in the claim form is a claim which the court has power to determine under the Judgments Regulation and –
(a) subject to paragraph (2A) no proceedings between the parties concerning the same claim are pending in the courts of any other part of the United Kingdom or any other Member State; and
(i) the defendant is domiciled in the United Kingdom or in any Member State;
(ii) the defendant is not a consumer, but is a party to a consumer contract within article 17 of the Judgments Regulation;
(iii) the defendant is an employer and a party to a contract of employment within article 20 of the Judgments Regulation;
(iv) the proceedings are within article 24 of the Judgments Regulation; or
(v) the defendant is a party to an agreement conferring jurisdiction within article 25 of the Judgments Regulation.
(2A) Paragraph (2)(a) does not apply if the jurisdiction conferred by the agreement referred to in paragraph (2)(b)(v) is exclusive.
(3) The claimant may serve the claim form on a defendant out of the United Kingdom where each claim made against the defendant to be served and included in the claim form is a claim which the court has power to determine other than under the 1982 Act or the Lugano Convention or the Judgments Regulation, notwithstanding that –
(1) Where the claimant intends to serve a claim form on a defendant under rule 6.32 or 6.33, the claimant must –
(a) file with the claim form a notice containing a statement of the grounds on which the claimant is entitled to serve the claim form out of the jurisdiction; and
(b) serve a copy of that notice with the claim form.
(2) Where the claimant fails to file with the claim form a copy of the notice referred to in paragraph (1)(a), the claim form may only be served –
(a) once the claimant files the notice; or
(b) if the court gives permission.
(1) This rule sets out the period for –
(a) filing an acknowledgment of service;
(b) filing an admission; or
(c) filing a defence,
where a claim form has been served out of the jurisdiction under rule 6.32 or 6.33.
(Part 10 contains rules about acknowledgments of service, Part 14 contains rules about admissions and Part 15 contains rules about defences.)
Service of the claim form on a defendant in Scotland or Northern Ireland
(2) Where the claimant serves on a defendant in Scotland or Northern Ireland under rule 6.32, the period –
(a) for filing an acknowledgment of service or admission is 21 days after service of the particulars of claim; or
(b) for filing a defence is –
(i) 21 days after service of the particulars of claim; or
(ii) where the defendant files an acknowledgment of service, 35 days after service of the particulars of claim.
(Part 7 provides that particulars of claim must be contained in or served with the claim form or served separately on the defendant within 14 days after service of the claim form.)
Service of the claim form on a defendant in a Convention territory within Europe or a Member State
(3) Where the claimant serves the claim form on a defendant in a Convention territory within Europe or a Member State under rule 6.33, the period –
(a) for filing an acknowledgment of service or admission, is 21 days after service of the particulars of claim; or
Service of the claim form on a defendant in a Convention territory outside Europe
(4) Where the claimant serves the claim form on a defendant in a Convention territory outside Europe under rule 6.33, the period –
(a) for filing an acknowledgment of service or admission, is 31 days after service of the particulars of claim; or
(i) 31 days after service of the particulars of claim; or
(ii) where the defendant files an acknowledgment of service, 45 days after service of the particulars of claim.
Service on a defendant elsewhere
(5) Where the claimant serves the claim form under rule 6.33 in a country not referred to in paragraph (3) or (4), the period for responding to the claim form is set out in Practice Direction 6B.
6.36 In any proceedings to which rule 6.32 or 6.33 does not apply, the claimant may serve a claim form out of the jurisdiction with the permission of the court if any of the grounds set out in paragraph 3.1 of Practice Direction 6B apply.
(b) that the claimant believes that the claim has a reasonable prospect of success; and
(c) the defendant’s address or, if not known, in what place the defendant is, or is likely, to be found.
(2) Where the application is made in respect of a claim referred to in paragraph 3.1(3) of Practice Direction 6B, the application must also state the grounds on which the claimant believes that there is between the claimant and the defendant a real issue which it is reasonable for the court to try.
(4) In particular, where –
(a) the application is for permission to serve a claim form in Scotland or Northern Ireland; and
(b) it appears to the court that the claimant may also be entitled to a remedy in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the court, in deciding whether to give permission, will –
(i) compare the cost and convenience of proceeding there or in the jurisdiction; and
(ii) (where relevant) have regard to the powers and jurisdiction of the Sheriff court in Scotland or the county courts or courts of summary jurisdiction in Northern Ireland.
(5) Where the court gives permission to serve a claim form out of the jurisdiction –
(a) it will specify the periods within which the defendant may –
(i) file an acknowledgment of service;
(ii) file or serve an admission;
(iii) file a defence; or
(iv) file any other response or document required by a rule in another Part, any other enactment or a practice direction; and
(The periods referred to in paragraphs (5)(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) are those specified in the Table in Practice Direction 6B.)
(1) Unless paragraph (2) or (3) applies, where the permission of the court is required for the claimant to serve the claim form out of the jurisdiction, the claimant must obtain permission to serve any other document in the proceedings out of the jurisdiction.
(a) the court gives permission for a claim form to be served on a defendant out of the jurisdiction; and
(b) the claim form states that particulars of claim are to follow,
(3) The permission of the court is not required if a party has given an address for service in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
(1) Where an application notice is to be served out of the jurisdiction on a person who is not a party to the proceedings rules 6.35 and 6.37(5)(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply.
(2) Where an application is served out of the jurisdiction on a person who is not a party to the proceedings, that person may make an application to the court under Part 11 as if that person were a defendant, but rule 11(2) does not apply.
(Part 11 contains provisions about disputing the court’s jurisdiction.)
(2) Where a party serves a claim form or other document on a party in Scotland or Northern Ireland, it must be served by a method permitted by Section II (and references to ‘jurisdiction’ in that Section are modified accordingly) or Section III of this Part and rule 6.23(4) applies.
(3) Where a party wishes to serve a claim form or other document on a party out of the United Kingdom, it may be served –
(The texts of the Civil Procedure Treaties which the United Kingdom has entered into may be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/publications-and-documents/treaties/lists-treaties/bilateral-civil-procedure.)
(1) This rule applies where a party wishes to serve the claim form or other document in accordance with the Service Regulation.
(2) The party must file –
(a) the claim form or other document;
(3) When a party files the documents referred to in paragraph (2), the court officer will forward the relevant documents to the Senior Master.
(4) Rule 6.47 does not apply to this rule.
(Article 20(1) of the Service Regulation provides that the Regulation prevails over other provisions contained in any other agreement or arrangement concluded by Member States. The Regulation does not apply to service in EEA states that are not member states of the EU.)
(1) Where a party wishes to serve a claim form or any other document in any country which is a party to a Civil Procedure Convention or Treaty providing for service in that country, it may be served –
(a) through the authority designated under the Hague Convention or any other Civil Procedure Convention or Treaty (where relevant) in respect of that country; or
(2) Where a party wishes to serve a claim form or any other document in any country with respect to which there is no Civil Procedure Convention or Treaty providing for service in that country, the claim form or other document may be served, if the law of that country so permits –
(3) Where a party wishes to serve the claim form or other document in –
(a) any Commonwealth State which is not a party to the Hague Convention or is such a party but HM Government has not declared acceptance of its accession to the Convention;
the methods of service permitted by paragraphs (1)(b) and (2) are not available and the party or the party’s agent must effect service direct, unless Practice Direction 6B provides otherwise.
(A list of British overseas territories is reproduced in paragraph 5.2 of Practice Direction 6B.)
(1) This rule applies where a party wishes to serve a claim form or any other document under rule 6.42(1) or 6.42(2).
(a) a request for service of the claim form or other document specifying one or more of the methods in rule 6.42(1) or 6.42(2);
(b) a copy of the claim form or other document;
(d) any translation required under rule 6.45.
(3) Where a party files the documents specified in paragraph (2), the court officer will –
(a) seal(GL) the copy of the claim form or other document; and
(b) forward the documents to the Senior Master.
(a) where the claim form or other document is being served through the authority designated under the Hague Convention or any other Civil Procedure Convention or Treaty, to that authority; or
(b) in any other case, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with a request that it arranges for the claim form or other document to be served.
(iii) the authority designated in respect of that country under the a Civil Procedure Convention or Treaty,
(1) This rule applies where a party wishes to serve the claim form or other document on a State.
(2) In this rule, ‘State’ has the meaning given by section 14 of the State Immunity Act 197816.
(3) The party must file in the Central Office of the Royal Courts of Justice –
(b) a copy of the claim form or other document; and
(c) any translation required under rule 6.45.
(4) The Senior Master will send the documents filed under this rule to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with a request that it arranges for them to be served.
(5) An official certificate by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office stating that a claim form or other document has been duly served on a specified date in accordance with a request made under this rule is evidence of that fact.
(a) section 12(6) of the State Immunity Act 1978 applies; and
the claim form or other document may be served either by the method agreed or in accordance with this rule.
(Section 12(6) of the State Immunity Act 1978 provides that section 12(1) enables the service of a claim form or other document in a manner to which the State has agreed.)
(1) Except where paragraph (4) or (5) applies, every copy of the claim form or other document filed under rule 6.43 (service through foreign governments, judicial authorities etc.) or 6.44 (service of claim form or other document on a State) must be accompanied by a translation of the claim form or other document.
(b) if there is more than one official language of that country, in any official language which is appropriate to the place in the country where the claim form or other document is to be served.
(4) A party is not required to file a translation of a claim form or other document filed under rule 6.43 (service through foreign governments, judicial authorities etc.) where the claim form or other document is to be served –
(b) on a British citizen (within the meaning of the British Nationality Act 198117),
(5) A party is not required to file a translation of a claim form or other document filed under rule 6.44 (service of claim form or other document on a State) where English is an official language of the State in which the claim form or other document is to be served.
(The Service Regulation contains provisions about the translation of documents.)
6.46 Every request for service filed under rule 6.43 (service through foreign governments, judicial authorities etc.) or rule 6.44 (service of claim form or other document on a State) must contain an undertaking by the person making the request –
6.50 The Senior Master will serve a document to which this Section applies upon receipt of –
(a) a written request for service –
(i) where the foreign court or tribunal is in a convention country, from a consular or other authority of that country; or
(ii) from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with a recommendation that service should be effected;
(b) a translation of that request into English;
(c) two copies of the document to be served; and
(d) unless the foreign court or tribunal certifies that the person to be served understands the language of the document, two copies of a translation of it into English.
6.51 The Senior Master will determine the method of service.
(1) Where service of a document has been effected by a process server, the process server must –
(a) send to the Senior Master a copy of the document, and
(i) proof of service; or
(ii) a statement why the document could not be served; and
(b) if the Senior Master directs, specify the costs incurred in serving or attempting to serve the document.
(2) The Senior Master will send to the person who requested service –
(a) a certificate, sealed with the seal of the Senior Courts for use out of the jurisdiction, stating –
(i) when and how the document was served or the reason why it has not been served; and
(ii) where appropriate, an amount certified by a costs judge to be the costs of serving or attempting to serve the document; and
(b) a copy of the document.
1971 c. 80. Back to text
2000 c. 12. Back to text
1987 c. 31. Back to text
1947 c. 44. Back to text
Cmnd. 3986. Back to text
1982 c. 27. Back to text
OJ No L 299, 16.11.2005, p.62. Back to text
OJ No L324, 10.12.2007, p.79. Back to text
OJ No L160, 30.6.2000, p.37. Back to text
OJ No L300, 17.11.2005, p.53. Back to text
1981 c. 61. Back to text
1978 c. 33. Back to text
Updated: Thursday, 20 November 2014
CourtsCourtsProcedure rulesCivilRules & Practice DirectionsPART 6 - SERVICE OF DOCUMENTSPRACTICE DIRECTION 6A – SERVICE WITHIN THE UNITED KINGDOMPRACTICE DIRECTION 6B – SERVICE OUT OF THE JURISDICTION	Organisations