The website of the judges, magistrates and tribunal members in England and Wales

27 August 2008

Central Authority Under The Hague Convention On The Service Abroad Of Judicial And Extrajudicial Documents In Civil Or Commercial Matters (1965) and The Hague Convention On The Taking Of Evidence Abroad In Civil Or Commercial Matters (1970)

From 7th August 2008 the Senior Master at the Royal Courts of Justice will replace Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as the Central Authority for the above Conventions respectively and all process previously sent to or sent by them will now be sent to and sent by the Senior Master with the assistance of the Foreign Process Section in the Central Office.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will continue to carry out service of process through diplomatic channels including service on States under the State Immunity Act 1978.

Information on Hague and other Bi-lateral Convention service and requests for taking of evidence can be obtained from the Foreign Process Section at the Royal Courts of Justice whose email is: ForeignProcess.RCJ@hmcourts-service.gsi.gov.uk.

The Senior Master is in addition the Central Body for the EU Service Regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No. 1348/2000 of 29 May 2000) and the Taking of Evidence Regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No. 1206/2001 of 28 May 2001).