The Family Procedure (Adoption) Rules 2005

Service through foreign governments, judicial authorities and British Consular authorities

45.—(1) Where an application form is to be served on a respondent in any country which is a party to the Hague Convention, the application form may be served—

(a) through the authority designated under the Hague Convention in respect of that country; or

(b) if the law of that country permits—

(i) through the judicial authorities of that country; or

(ii) through a British Consular authority in that country.

(2) Where an application form is to be served on a respondent in any country which is not a party to the Hague Convention, the application form may be served, if the law of that country so permits—

(a) through the government of that country, where that government is willing to serve it; or

(b) through a British Consular authority in that country.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply where the application form is to be served in—

(a) Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands;

(b) any Commonwealth State; or

(c) any United Kingdom Overseas Territory listed in the relevant practice direction.

(4) This rule does not apply where service is to be effected in accordance with the Service Regulation.