Hague Conventions

A number of the Hague Conventions (international treaties/conventions concluded under the auspices of the Hague Conference on Private International Law) have been extended in international law to apply to Jersey.

For two of these (the 1965 Service Convention and the 1980 Child Abduction Convention) the functions of a Central Authority are discharged in Jersey by HM Attorney General for Jersey.

Hague 1965 Service Convention

In relation to the service of civil or commercial process there is a general freedom under Article 10 of the 1965 Hague Convention to deliver the process of foreign courts in Jersey by private means.

In addition, Jersey parties seeking to serve Jersey court process outside of Jersey should do so through the Royal Court by liaising with the Greffier.

A request for the Attorney General to arrange service in Jersey of process originating in courts or tribunals outside Jersey should be made by post or courier to:

HM Attorney General
Law Officers’ Department
Morier House
St Helier
Jersey
JE1 1DD

Whilst we will respond to queries raised by email at enquiries@lawofficers.je where a request is made for service, the documents to be served must be supplied to us already printed and in duplicate.

Where any document to be served is not in English (or is only partially in English) we would ordinarily require translations from the language of the document into English and any such translations should also be supplied to us in duplicate.

We would then arrange with the Viscount to effect service in Jersey law, either by personal service or by service in the manner requested as being valid under the law of the requesting party, and will supply the necessary certificate as to whether or not service was successful.