International Service of Process

What is the Hague Service Convention?

The Hague Service Convention is an international treaty that provides a standardized process for serving legal documents between countries. The full name of the treaty is the Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters.

The purpose of the Hague Service Convention is to ensure that legal documents, such as summons and complaints, can be served on individuals or entities located in other countries in a way that is both efficient and reliable. The treaty provides a framework for international cooperation in the service of legal documents, helping to reduce delays and uncertainties in cross-border legal proceedings.

The Hague Service Convention applies to all civil or commercial matters, including family law, intellectual property, and commercial disputes. However, it does not apply to criminal matters, which are governed by separate international treaties.