Contact details:

Practical Information:

Formal Service (Art. 5(1)(a))

Personal service is the method used by ABC Legal Services (ABC Legal) in executing all requests. 

Requests for service must be accompanied by the Hague Service Convention Model Form, transmitted in duplicate with a complete translation (one set will be served and the other will be returned by ABC Legal with a certificate of service), and include the full name and address for the person or entity to be served. 

Requests should also provide a contact email and phone number for the foreign applicant so ABC Legal can attempt to correct any mistakes or deficiencies before returning a request unexecuted, if needed.  

Requests for service on private individuals and companies can be mailed, but they can also be transmitted electronically to ABC Legal, along with proof of payment, or they can be uploaded on ABC Legal’s website: https://www.abclegal.com/international-service-of-process. 

Requests for service on the United States Government, which includes its officials (when named in an official capacity), departments, agencies, or instrumentalities, should be mailed directly to the U.S. Central Authority, Department of Justice, Office of International Judicial Assistance, P.O. Box 14360, Washington, DC 20044 USA. There is no fee for service requests designated for the United States Government. For more information, please see OIJA’s Guidance on Service on the U.S. Government available on OIJA’s website: https://www.justice.gov/civil/service-requests.

Informal delivery (Art. 5(2))
Informal service is authorized within the United States through a variety of methods, provided no compulsion is used and the method chosen is otherwise effective under applicable law, for example: (1) by members of diplomatic or consular missions in the United States; (2) by mail; or (3) by private persons. The requesting authority would make arrangements for service using one of these informal means without involvement from the U.S. Central Authority or ABC Legal.

Service by a particular method (Art. 5(1)(b))
We are presently unaware of “special requests” that would require service by a means other than those discussed above.

All formal requests for the service of documents made pursuant to Article 5(1) and submitted to ABC Legal, must be translated into English, along with a translation of the underlying documents, although papers solely in French will be served as well. All follow-up correspondence must also be sent in English or with an English translation. 

Please note there is no similar requirement for translation of documents to be served through informal means such as mail, consular channels, or privately retained process servers. If service is challenged by the defendant, some courts may rule that untranslated requests sent through informal mechanisms are not enforceable as a matter of due process, if the recipient was not provided with sufficient notice of the nature of the proceedings and an opportunity to respond.

All formal service requests on private individuals or companies under Article 5(1) must be sent directly to ABC Legal and accompanied by a $95.00 processing fee (or proof of payment). Payment of the fee can be made by Visa, MasterCard, most international credit cards, bank transfers, international money orders, and cashier’s checks payable to ABC Legal Services. Personal checks are not accepted. 

All service requests must comply with the payment schedule and method of payment described on ABC Legal’s website: https://www.abclegal.com/international-service-of-process/payment-information. ABC Legal’s website provides specific guidance on methods of payment. All service requests unaccompanied by proper payment in the manner indicated will be returned without processing.

ABC Legal can accept requests for service by email or uploaded through their website so long as proof of payment is included, or payment is made online. 

ABC Legal will attempt to resolve issues with incomplete or incorrect addresses by finding the closest possible match to the address provided in the request. If, in the course of attempts to serve, it is discovered that the subject or entity can no longer be found at the requested address, ABC Legal provides a complimentary investigation search to locate the subject. If a valid “new” address is identified, ABC Legal will confirm with the foreign applicant whether a new attempt at service should be made at a cost of another $95.00 payment. 

ABC Legal, however, does not serve papers upon the United States Government or its departments, agencies or instrumentalities. Such service requests must be directed to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Judicial Assistance. There is no fee for service requests designated for the United States Government. For more information, please see OIJA’s Guidance on Service on the U.S. Government, available on OIJA’s website: https://www.justice.gov/civil/service-requests.

ABC Legal is required to complete service of documents for return to the foreign applicant within thirty (30) business days of receipt. In addition, ABC Legal will accept requests for expedited service and will attempt to serve the documents within seven (7) business days of receipt, without charging an additional fee. Expedited service must be specifically requested, otherwise, service will be completed within thirty (30) business days of receipt. 

You may contact ABC Legal anytime at internationalinfo@abclegal.com or (001) 206-521-9000 for a status update. Foreign applicants who upload their service request through ABC Legal’s website can track their request status online.

Consular officers of the United States are prohibited by regulation from serving legal process or appointing other persons to do so abroad. See, Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 92.85.

No opposition 

The United States notes there is no requirement under U.S. Federal law that requests for service on private individuals and companies in the United States be sent to ABC Legal for execution. The United States has no objection to the informal delivery of such documents by members of diplomatic or consular missions in the United States, or through mail, or by private persons – if effective under applicable law – provided no compulsion is used.

Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory (Panama City, 13 January 1975)

Additional Protocol to the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory (Montevideo, 8 May 1979)
http://www.oas.org/juridico/english/treaties/b-46.html

Although some bilateral consular conventions provide for service of process by consular officers, U.S. consular officers are generally prohibited from doing so unless authorized by the Department of State. See, Title 22, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 92.85.

Office of International Judicial Assistance

Office of International Judicial Assistance – Service Requests

ABC Legal Services  

U.S. Department of State – Service of Process