The Charity Tribunal Rules (Northern Ireland) 2010

Sending of notices

10.—(1) Subject to paragraph (4), any document that is required to be sent under these Rules may only be sent—

(a) by first class post or by personal delivery to the postal address given to that party as the address for service;

(b) subject to paragraph (2), by document exchange, fax or email;

(c) where no address for service has been provided, by post or by personal delivery to a party’s registered office, principal place of business, head or main office or last known address.

(2) Documents may only be sent to any party by document exchange, fax or email if the intended recipient has informed the Tribunal and any other party in writing—

(a) that the intended recipient is willing to accept service by document exchange, fax or email; and

(b) of the box number at the document exchange, the fax number or the email address to which documents should be sent.

(3) If documents are sent by email in accordance with paragraph (2), the intended recipient may specify the format in which the documents must be sent.

(4) Any documents to be filed with the Tribunal must be sent—

(a) by first class post to an address specified by the Tribunal; or

(b) by such other method as the Tribunal may permit, including document exchange, fax or email.

(5) Where the Tribunal gives permission for documents to be filed using another method of service under paragraph (4)(b), the Tribunal may—

(a) specify that the method may be used generally or only in relation to certain documents;

(b) direct that the specified method is no longer available or substitute the specified method with another specified method; and

(c) make such directions in relation to the use of a specified method as the Tribunal deems appropriate.

(6) Any document which is sent in accordance with this rule must, unless the contrary is proved, be regarded as having been received—

(a) where it has been sent by first class post, the second working day after it was posted;

(b) where it is left at the specified address for service, if it is left on a working day before 5pm, on that day; or in any other case the working day after the day it was left;

(c) where it was sent by email or by fax, if it is transmitted on a working day before 5pm, on that day; or in any other case, on the working day after the day that it was transmitted; or

(d) where it was sent by document exchange, the second working day after it was left at the document exchange.

(7) The Tribunal may direct that service of any documents under these Rules may be dispensed with and, in those circumstances, may make such consequential directions as it deems appropriate.