The Americas · Hague Convention Member
We coordinate service of process, court filings, and related legal document delivery in the United States through United States's Hague Central Authority, as part of our The Americas coverage network.
The United States is a contracting party to the 1965 Hague Service Convention, which means judicial documents can be transmitted through the United States' designated Central Authority rather than through slower diplomatic channels. Under the Convention, a Central Authority in the United States receives the request, arranges for service under its own domestic procedure, and returns an official certificate confirming the outcome. It's a more standardized process than diplomatic Letters Rogatory, though it still typically takes several months and follows the United States' own requirements around translation, fees, and documentation.
In practice, this means providing the original documents, any translations the United States' Central Authority requires, and a clear description of the case, then waiting for that authority to complete service under whichever method its domestic law permits — often personal delivery or service through a local court. Because the process runs through an official government channel, the resulting certificate of service is generally well recognized by U.S. courts, even though it can take longer than a domestic delivery would. For a broader look at how the available channels compare, see our guide to international service of process.
We prepare and transmit the formal request to the United States' designated Central Authority, following the Convention's standardized forms and the United States' specific documentation requirements.
Discuss this approach →Before anything is sent, we check the United States' Central Authority requirements — forms, fees, and whether English-language documents are accepted — so the request isn't delayed or rejected on a technicality.
Discuss this approach →Requirements and current conditions can change — always confirm the United States' declarations and Central Authority details on the HCCH status table and check current guidance from the U.S. Department of State's judicial assistance page before committing time and court fees to a particular route.
Some Hague countries object to alternative channels such as service by mail, and U.S. courts generally honor those objections. If you expect to enforce a judgment inside the United States, ask counsel familiar with local law whether the method of service you choose will be respected there — service that satisfies a U.S. court doesn't automatically satisfy a foreign one.
We'll tell you plainly which route looks realistic for your matter, rather than promising an outcome.
The process
We review your case, deadline, and defendant details, and check the United States' declarations, to confirm that the Central Authority route is the right fit.
The documents to be served and the Convention's standard request form with its summary of the document. English is an official language in the United States, so a translation is often unnecessary — we confirm that with the Central Authority.
The completed request goes to the Central Authority the United States has designated to receive Hague requests.
The Central Authority arranges service, or has it carried out through a local court or officer, following the United States' own rules.
The Central Authority completes a certificate confirming whether and how service was made, and returns it for you to file with the court.
Requirements can differ by court and by country, and can change over time — treat this as a general outline, not a checklist for your filing.
Planning your matter
Hague requests to the United States' Central Authority generally take a few months, though the time varies with the authority's caseload and how service is carried out locally. That's usually faster than Letters Rogatory, but slower than serving papers domestically.
English is an official language in the United States, so translation is often unnecessary. We confirm with the United States' Central Authority whether English-language documents are accepted, and coordinate certified translation only if it asks for one.
The United States is a Hague Service Convention member, so most U.S. litigants start with its Central Authority. Other channels, such as service by mail or direct delivery, are available only where the United States hasn't objected to them and your court permits — we'll confirm which options apply before anything is sent.
Process Server Global has handled international service of process since 1982, and the United States is one of the 195 nations we serve. We manage the paperwork, translations, routing, and proof of service, so your documents reach the United States through the right channel and come back court-ready.
Request service in the United StatesGetting papers served in the United States usually depends on the right people in the right offices. We work with the United States' Central Authority and, where local law allows, coordinate in-country resources so your request doesn't stall on a technicality. If you're considering hiring a single process server directly in the United States, be careful — the United States' declarations and local law determine whether direct service is allowed, and agents may not be authorized under a foreign country's law to serve documents there. Talk to us first, and we'll confirm what's permitted and which route will hold up.
We serve summons, complaints, subpoenas, and other court documents in the United States in line with FRCP Rule 4(f), and return proof of service your court can rely on — typically the Central Authority's certificate under Article 6 of the Convention.
The United States is a contracting party to the Hague Service Convention, so requests can be sent through its designated Central Authority. Check the United States' declarations, including any objections to alternative channels, on the HCCH status table before you file.
Whatever the document, our team has the experience to execute your specific request and route it through the right channel the first time.
Decades of experience working through the correct government and judicial channels — Hague Central Authorities where they apply, diplomatic and court channels where they don't — mean your documents move through the right process, wherever they're headed.
Since 1982, we've built a track record litigators rely on — documented, court-ready service performed to FRCP 4(f) standards.
Need documents served in the United States?
Tell us about your case and deadline, and we'll confirm the right service pathway for the United States.
Request Service in the United StatesYes — the United States is a contracting party, so service can generally be transmitted through its designated Central Authority rather than through diplomatic Letters Rogatory. Confirm the United States' declarations on the HCCH website before filing, since some countries object to certain alternative channels and membership details can change.
U.S. litigants typically send a completed Hague request, the documents to be served, and any required translations to the United States' Central Authority, which arranges service under local procedures. Other channels may be available only where the United States hasn't objected to them and your court permits.
It varies by country and by the Central Authority's current caseload, but Hague requests generally take a few months rather than the year or more that Letters Rogatory can take.
Only where the United States hasn't objected to the channel and your court allows it. Where the Convention applies, courts generally expect its channels to be honored, so check with us before relying on email or mail.
Often not. English is an official language in the United States, so translation is frequently unnecessary, but the Central Authority has the final say. We confirm its requirement before anything is sent.
Once service is completed, the United States' Central Authority returns an official certificate under Article 6 of the Convention, confirming that service was — or was not — effected, and why.
Not directly, and it depends on the United States' declarations. Where the United States hasn't objected to the direct channels in Article 10(b) and (c) of the Convention, service can be arranged through competent officials or agents in the United States rather than through the Central Authority, but whether that's allowed, and who qualifies, varies by country and local law. We check the United States' declarations first, and we don't recommend sending a U.S. agent to deliver papers there without local advice.
It depends on the number of defendants, document volume, translation needs, and any Central Authority or local service fees the United States charges. Tell us about your case and deadline and we'll outline the fees before you commit to anything.
Last updated: September 24, 2026
This page provides general information based on treaty membership status and is not legal advice. Requirements can vary by case and change over time — contact us to confirm current procedures for the United States.
