The Family Procedure Rules 2010

CHAPTER 4 E+W SERVICE OUT OF THE JURISDICTION

Scope and interpretation E+W

6.40.—(1) This Chapter contains rules about—

(a) service of application forms and other documents out of the jurisdiction; and

(b) the procedure for service.

(“Jurisdiction” is defined in rule 2.3.)

(2) In this Chapter—

“application form” includes an application notice;

“Commonwealth State” means a State listed in Schedule 3 to the British Nationality Act 1981 M1 ; and

“the Hague Convention” means the Convention on the service abroad of judicial and extra-judicial documents in civil or commercial matters signed at the Hague on November 15, 1965.

Marginal Citations

M1 1981 c.61.

Permission to serve not required E+W

6.41.  Any document to be served for the purposes of these rules may be served out of the jurisdiction without the permission of the court.

[F1 Time for serving an application for a matrimonial or civil partnership order out of the jurisdiction E+W

6.41A.— (1) The applicant must complete the step required by the table in paragraph (2) or (3), as applicable, in relation to the method of service chosen before 12.00 midnight on the day 28 days after the date of issue of the application.

(2) Where service of an application for a matrimonial or civil partnership order is to be effected on a party in Scotland or Northern Ireland—

Method of service	Step required
First class post, document exchange or other service which provides for delivery on the next business day	Posting, leaving with, delivering to or collection by the relevant service provider
Personal service under rule 6.7, by someone other than the applicant personally	Leaving it with the person to be served
Email service under rule 6.7A	Sending the application by e-mail and sending the notice required by rule 6.7A(2) by posting, leaving with, delivering to or collection by the relevant service provider

(3) Where service of an application for a matrimonial or civil partnership order is to be effected on a respondent out of the United Kingdom—

Method of service	Step required
Where service is to be effected by a method provided for by rule 6.45	The steps required by rule 6.46(2)
Where service is to be effected by another method permitted by the law of the country in which it is to be served	Sending or delivering the application to, or leaving it with, the person to be served or taking such other such steps to effect service as are permitted by the law of the country in which it is to be served

Textual Amendments

F1 Rules 6.41A, 6.41B inserted (6.4.2022) by The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. 2022/44), rules 1(3)(a), 21 (with rule 29); S.I. 2022/283, reg. 2

Extension of time for serving the application for a matrimonial or civil partnership order E+W

6.41B.— (1) The applicant may apply for an order extending the time for compliance with rule 6.41A.

(2) The general rule is that an application under paragraph (1) must be made—

(a) within the period for service specified by rule 6.41A; or

(b) where an order has been made under this rule, within the period specified by that order.

(3) Where an applicant asserts that they have a good reason for not making an application under paragraph (1) within the periods specified in paragraph (2) an application under paragraph (1) may be made—

(a) after the period for service specified by rule 6.41A; or

(b) where an order has been made under this rule, after the period specified by that order.

(4) On an application under paragraph (1), the court must consider all the circumstances including whether—

(a) the applicant has taken reasonable steps to comply with rule 6.41A; and

(b) the applicant has acted promptly.

(5) An application for an order extending the time for compliance with rule 6.41A—

(a) must be supported by evidence; and

(b) may be made without notice.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Rules 6.41A, 6.41B inserted (6.4.2022) by The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2022 (S.I. 2022/44), rules 1(3)(a), 21 (with rule 29); S.I. 2022/283, reg. 2

Period for acknowledging service or responding to application where application is served out of the jurisdiction E+W

6.42.—(1) This rule applies where, under these rules, a party is required to file—

(a) an acknowledgment of service; or

(b) an answer to an application,

and sets out the time period for doing so where the application is served out of the jurisdiction.

(2) Where the applicant serves an application on a respondent in—

(a) Scotland or Northern Ireland; or

(b) a F2 ... Hague Convention country within Europe,

the period for filing an acknowledgment of service or an answer to an application is 21 days after service of the application.

(3) Where the applicant serves an application on a respondent in a Hague Convention country outside Europe, the period for filing an acknowledgment of service or an answer to an application is 31 days after service of the application.

(4) Where the applicant serves an application on a respondent in a country not referred to in paragraphs (2) and (3), the period for filing an acknowledgment of service or an answer to an application is set out in Practice Direction 6B.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in rule 6.42(2)(b) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Family Procedure Rules 2010 and Court of Protection Rules 2017 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/517), regs. 1(1), 6(4) (with reg. 22) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1493, regs. 1(1), 8(2)(a)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Method of service – general provisions E+W

6.43.—(1) This rule contains general provisions about the method of service of an application for a matrimonial or civil partnership order, or other document, on a party out of the jurisdiction. Where service is to be effected on a party in Scotland or Northern Ireland

(2) Where a party serves an application form or other document on a party in Scotland or Northern Ireland, it must be served by a method permitted by Chapter 2 (and references to “jurisdiction” in that Chapter are modified accordingly) or Chapter 3 of this Part and rule 6.26(5) applies. Where service is to be effected on a respondent out of the United Kingdom

(3) Where the applicant wishes to serve an application form, or other document, on a respondent out of the United Kingdom, it may be served by any method—

[F3 (a) provided for by rule 6.45 (service through foreign governments, judicial authorities and British Consular authorities); or]

(b) permitted by the law of the country in which it is to be served.

(4) Nothing in paragraph (3) or in any court order authorises or requires any person to do anything which is contrary to the law of the country where the application form, or other document, is to be served.

Textual Amendments

F3 Rule 6.43(3)(a) substituted (6.4.2021) by The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/155), rules 1, 3

Service in accordance with the Service Regulation E+W

F4 6.44.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F4 Rule 6.44 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Family Procedure Rules 2010 and Court of Protection Rules 2017 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/517), regs. 1(1), 6(6) (with reg. 22) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1493, regs. 1(1), 8(2)(a)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Service through foreign governments, judicial authorities and British Consular authorities E+W

6.45.—(1) Where the applicant wishes to serve an application form, or other document, on a respondent in any country which is a party to the Hague Convention, it 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 the applicant wishes to serve an application form, or other document, on a respondent in any country which is not a party to the Hague Convention, it 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) Where the applicant wishes to serve an application form, or other document, in—

(a) any Commonwealth State which is not a party to the Hague Convention;

(b) the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands; or

(c) any British Overseas Territory,

the methods of service permitted by paragraphs (1)(b) and (2) are not available and the applicant or the applicant's agent must effect service on a respondent in accordance with rule 6.43 unless Practice Direction 6B provides otherwise.

F5 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F5 Rule 6.45(4) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Family Procedure Rules 2010 and Court of Protection Rules 2017 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/517), regs. 1(1), 6(7) (with reg. 22) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1493, regs. 1(1), 8(2)(a)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Procedure where service is to be through foreign governments, judicial authorities and British Consular authorities E+W

6.46.—(1) This rule applies where the applicant wishes to serve an application form, or other document, under rule 6.45(1) or (2).

(2) Where this rule applies, the applicant must file—

(a) a request for service of the application form, or other document, by specifying one or more of the methods in rule 6.45(1) or (2);

(b) a copy of the application form or other document;

(c) any other documents or copies of documents required by Practice Direction 6B; and

(d) any translation required under rule 6.47.

(3) When the applicant files the documents specified in paragraph (2), the court officer will—

(a) seal^(GL), or otherwise authenticate with the stamp of the court, the copy of the application form or other document; and

(b) forward the documents to the Senior Master of the [F6 King’s] Bench Division.

(4) The Senior Master will send documents forwarded under this rule—

(a) where the application form, or other document, is being served through the authority designated under the Hague Convention, to that authority; or

(b) in any other case, to [F7 the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] with a request that it arranges for the application form or other document to be served.

(5) An official certificate which—

(a) states that the method requested under paragraph (2)(a) has been performed and the date of such performance;

(b) states, where more than one method is requested under paragraph (2)(a), which method was used; and

(c) is made by—

(i) a British Consular authority in the country where the method requested under paragraph (2)(a) was performed;

(ii) the government or judicial authorities in that country; or

(iii) the authority designated in respect of that country under the Hague Convention,

is evidence of the facts stated in the certificate.

(6) A document purporting to be an official certificate under paragraph (5) is to be treated as such a certificate, unless it is proved not to be.

Textual Amendments

F6 Word in rule 6.46(3)(b) substituted (6.4.2023) by The Family Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2023 (S.I. 2023/61), rules 1(3), 5

F7 Words in rule 6.46(4)(b) substituted (30.9.2020) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/942), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 18(a)

Translation of application form or other document E+W

6.47.—(1) Except where paragraphs (4) and (5) apply, every copy of the application form, or other document, filed under rule 6.45 (service through foreign governments, judicial authorities and British Consular authorities) must be accompanied by a translation of the application form or other document.

(2) The translation must be—

(a) in the official language of the country in which it is to be served; or

(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 application form or other document is to be served.

(3) Every translation filed under this rule must be accompanied by a statement by the person making it that it is a correct translation, and the statement must include that person's name, address and qualifications for making the translation.

(4) The applicant is not required to file a translation of the application form, or other document, filed under rule 6.45 where it is to be served in a country of which English is an official language.

(5) The applicant is not required to file a translation of the application form or other document filed under rule 6.45 where—

(a) the person on whom the document is to be served is able to read and understand English; and

(b) service of the document is to be effected directly on that person.

(F8 ...)

Textual Amendments

F8 Words in rule 6.47 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Family Procedure Rules 2010 and Court of Protection Rules 2017 (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/517), regs. 1(1), 6(8) (with reg. 22) (as amended by S.I. 2020/1493, regs. 1(1), 8(2)(a)); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Undertaking to be responsible for expenses of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office E+W

6.48.  Every request for service filed under rule 6.46 (procedure where service is to be through foreign governments, judicial authorities etc.) must contain an undertaking by the person making the request—

(a) to be responsible for all expenses incurred by [F9 the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] or foreign judicial authority; and

(b) to pay those expenses to [F10 the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] or foreign judicial authority on being informed of the amount.

Textual Amendments

F9 Words in rule 6.48(a) substituted (30.9.2020) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/942), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 18(b)

F10 Words in rule 6.48(b) substituted (30.9.2020) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/942), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 18(b)