The request
The Convention's model form, identifying the court, the parties and the person to be served, signed by an authority or judicial officer competent under U.S. law.
Home / Services we provide / Hague Convention requests
In the 80-plus countries that belong to the 1965 Hague Service Convention, documents go to a designated Central Authority, which serves them under its own law and returns a certificate your court will accept. We prepare the request, arrange certified translations, send it to the right authority and follow it through to the certificate.
See its position on mail and local agents, and whether translation is likely.
Working relationships with Central Authorities and local agents, wherever the documents are headed.
Forty-plus years of documented, court-ready service to FRCP 4(f) standards.
We check each country's declarations before the request is sent, not after it's returned.
Most requests that come back unserved fail on one of these four pieces, not on the law.
The Convention's model form, identifying the court, the parties and the person to be served, signed by an authority or judicial officer competent under U.S. law.
A plain summary of the case and what is claimed, served with the documents so the defendant understands what they have received.
The summons, complaint and exhibits, sent with the request in duplicate so one copy can be returned with the certificate.
Many Central Authorities require documents in their official language. We confirm the rule for the country and arrange certified translations.
A standard process, with each country's own requirements.
The Central Authority checks the request, passes it to a local court or officer for service, and returns a certificate under Article 6 stating when, where and how the documents were served, or why they couldn't be.
Each authority sets its own rules on translation, fees and documents. We tailor every request to them and track it until the certificate is back in your hands.
The Convention also allows other channels, unless the country has objected to them. The checker above shows each country's position.
| Route | How it works | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Central AuthorityArticles 2 to 6 | Request sent to the designated authority, which arranges service and returns the certificate. | Always available in member countries. The safest route when you may need to enforce a judgment there. |
| Postal channelsArticle 10(a) | Documents sent directly to the defendant by international registered mail or courier. | Only where the country hasn't objected and your court's rules allow it. China, Germany, Japan and Mexico, among others, have objected. |
| Local judicial officersArticle 10(b) and (c) | Service arranged directly through a judicial officer or other competent person in the country. | Where the country permits it. Often much faster than the Central Authority, for example through a huissier in France. |
| Diplomatic or consular agentsArticles 8 and 9 | Service through a U.S. consular officer, usually only on a willing recipient. | Rarely practical for civil litigants. Many countries allow it only when the person served is a U.S. national. |
Country positions come from the declarations filed with the Hague Conference. Some are qualified or conditional, so we confirm the current position before recommending a route.
Whether you need a single request or regular work, here's how it runs.
One assignment, anywhere in the world.
Attorneys, law firms, insurers and businesses.
Want us to file the proof of service with the court? Mention it when you register.
Tell us the country and your deadline and we'll confirm the right approach.
Start a Hague requestFor U.S. cases, yes, when it applies: where documents have to be sent to a member country for service and the defendant's address is known. U.S. courts expect one of the Convention's methods to be used in that case.
No. Each Central Authority sets its own requirements on translation, fees and documentation, and some have objected to the alternative routes. We tailor each request to the country.
It varies widely by country, from a couple of months to well over a year. A complete, correctly translated request avoids the most common delay, which is being sent back for correction.
Service by the Central Authority is generally free under Article 12, but some countries charge for a judicial officer or a special method of service. We include any known fee in the quote.
Under Article 15, and the declaration the U.S. has made, a court may enter judgment if the request was sent by a Convention method, at least six months have passed, and no certificate has been received despite reasonable efforts. We document each follow-up for that purpose.
Service then usually goes through Letters Rogatory, the Inter-American Convention for its treaty partners, or a local agent where that's allowed. The checker above shows the route for each country.
General information about the Hague Service Convention, not legal advice. Country declarations and practice change; confirm the current position for your case.
Send the documents and case details, or call 888-671-6643.