Hague Service Convention General Information for United States Attorneys and Plaintiffs

Through the Hague Service Convention, attorneys and plaintiffs can access multiple channels for international process service which are considered proper “Hague Service” under United States law. Keep in mind, properly completing the Hague Service procedures greatly reduces chances of a successful quash.

Process Server One has built close working relationships with the Central Authorities in all nations signed to the Hague Service Convention including judicial officers to increase service speeds and keep you up-to-date with the status of your assignment.

International process service experts at Process Server One will help you decide which channel is best for your specific case given the country you are serving legal papers in.

Channels for Process Service Through The Hague Convention

There are 2 primary service channels through the Hague Service Convention:

  1. Per Article 5, The “Central Authority” of the foreign nation will accept a Hague Service Request
  2. Per Articles 8, 9, and 10, service of process is allowed by a diplomat, judicial officer, or by mail unless the nation has announced that any of these process service channels are not allowed

How Hague Service Convention Process Service Requests Work Through The Central Authority

The greatest benefit of process service through the Hague Service Convention is the guarantee of effective service in the foreign country (given a correct address is provided to serve the legal papers at). We begin by preparing and filing a Hague Service Request for routine service or another approved method of service with the Central Authority designated by the receiving nation.

Documents may require translation into the language used primarily by the Central Authority or local government in addition to the language spoken by the defendant.
Hague Service Convention Forms
Up to 4 forms must be submitted alongside the documents being served. This step is to help the person or business being served to understand what is happening and how to respond without unnecessary penalties:

  1. A Request
  2. A Certificate
  3. A Summary of the Documents to Be Served

A Notice

Alternative Process Service Channels of The Hague Service Convention

We offer international process service methods available beyond the standard Hague Service Request. Article 10a enables each nation or member state of the Hague Service Convention to accept or deny process service by mail or post. Successful process service is not guaranteed by mail or post; the serve may be contested successfully in certain jurisdictions. Ask our experts which process service channel is best for your case given the nation you are serving.

According to Articles 10b and 10c, “judicial officers, officials or other competent persons of the State” and “interested persons” may legally serve your legal papers in the destination state.

Note: United States diplomats are not allowed to directly serve legal papers abroad per Articles 8 and 9.