international service

Serving a Defendant Abroad? Three Common International Service Problems

Issues with international service of process can cause significant headaches for the plaintiff trying to pursue a lawsuit against an overseas defendant. International service of process is particularly important when it comes to collecting a judgment issued by a domestic court against a foreign defendant. Below are the three biggest issues that come up when…

Service of Process at the Vatican City

The Catholic Church has had several lawsuits filed against it around the world by victims of alleged sexual abuse by the clergy. Attorneys representing survivors have filed claims against the Vatican and argue that the Holy See has benefited from the support of archbishops, parishioners, and others who knew of the abuse and yet actively…

Head of Catholic Church Calls for End to Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws

Pope Francis recently criticized laws as unjust that make homosexuality criminal, according to a recent report by The Guardian. The head of the Holy See further noted that God loves all people as they are and called on Catholic bishops to welcome LGBTQ+ into their churches. The Pope acknowledged that some Catholic bishops around the…

Hague Convention Guides Germany’s Amendments on Pre-Trial Discovery

Germany Stops Prohibiting Pre-Trial Discovery Under Hague Convention It is no secret that when it comes to international law, judicial power ends at the country’s borders. As a result, courts need help from foreign courts when a party is seeking discovery outside of its jurisdiction. German courts used to flat-out refuse to execute a pre-trial…

Serving Divorce Papers in Mexico

Serving divorce papers in Mexico can be a complex process that requires a thorough understanding of Mexican law and the country’s legal system. The following steps will help you navigate the process: Hiring an attorney: It is strongly recommended to hire an attorney who is knowledgeable about the divorce process. An attorney can help you…

International Service by Mail: Allowed and Effective?

Service of process on a foreign defendant can be complicated, as proper service is wholly dependent upon the rules of both countries involved in the litigation as well as any treaty that the nation-states may have agreed to as signatories. One example of such an international agreement is The Convention on the Service Abroad of…

Lawsuit Not Dismissed Despite Ineffective and Untimely Service

An American plaintiff who filed suit against a foreign defendant managed to avoid the case being dismissed by the court. This was despite the service of process being both untimely and improper on the Canadian defendants. Instead, the Massachusetts District Court used its discretion and quashed service and did not throw out the case.  …

Serving Divorce Papers Abroad: A Primer

It is no secret that divorce can be difficult. Rarely is the process seamless. If your soon-to-be ex-spouse is in another country, your life at home may have less emotion and drama but serving divorce papers will be more difficult than doing so domestically. This is because proper service is much more complicated than just…

Serving a Tawainese Defendant by Mail

Serving a Taiwanese Defendant by Mail If you need to serve a foreign defendant, particularly in Taiwan, there are several factors you must take into consideration. Specifically, properly serving a foreign defendant requires complying with United States law, the law of the defendant’s home country, and any international treaty that may exist between the two…

How to Serve a Chinese Company

How to Serve a Chinese Company There are several challenges that plaintiffs may face when trying to assert a claim against a Chinese legal entity. Both the United States and China are member-states and parties to the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial & Extrajudicial Documents (the “Hague Service Convention”). The Hague Service…

How Long Does the Hague Process Take for International Service?

How Long Does the Hague Process Take for International Service? If you or someone you know is suing a foreign defendant, it is critical to understand that the process is significantly different than serving a person or entity domestically. The time in which to complete service is wholly dependent upon the country in which the…

Hague Convention Service: Understanding the Process

When it comes to international service of process, the Hague Convention is the most common method used to effectuate the service of legal papers intentionally. This is because, in major part, more and more countries have become signatories to the international treaty. Below is a brief explanation of how this process works and will help…