{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/act-of-sederunt-simple-procedure-2016/schedule-1/part-19",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/act-of-sederunt-simple-procedure-2016/schedule-1/part-19.json",
  "legislation": "ssi/2016/200",
  "legislation_title": "Act of Sederunt (Simple Procedure) 2016",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/act-of-sederunt-simple-procedure-2016",
  "path": "schedule/1/part/19",
  "kind": "part",
  "number": "19: Formal service outside Scotland",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "19.1\nWhat is this Part about?\n(1)\nThis Part is about how to formally serve a document on someone outside Scotland.\n19.2\nHow can you formally serve a document on someone who lives outside Scotland?\n(1)\nDifferent rules apply depending on the country that the person lives in.\n(2)\nIf the person lives in England and Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, see rule 19.3.\n(3)\nIf the person lives in an EU member state (including Denmark), see rule 19.4.\n(4)\nIf the person lives in a Hague Convention country (other than an EU member state), see rule 19.5.\n(5)\nIf the person lives in a country with which the United Kingdom has a convention about how to serve court documents (such as Algeria, Libya and the United Arab Emirates), see rule 19.6.\n(6)\nIf none of the above applies, see rule 19.7.\n19.3\nHow can you formally serve a document on someone who lives in England and Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands?\nMethod\n(1)\nThere are two ways to formally serve a document on someone who lives in England and Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.\n(2)\nIt may be done by posting the document to the person's home or business address using a postal service which records delivery. This is called postal service.\n(3)\nIt may also be done by using the rules for personal service under the domestic law of the country where the document is to be served. This is called personal service.\nWho can formally serve the document?\n(4)\nThe sheriff clerk may formally serve a Claim Form on the respondent by postal service only if:\n(a)\nthe claimant is not a company or a partnership, and\n(b)\nthe claimant is not legally represented.\n(5)\nOtherwise, postal service may only be done by one of two persons:\n(a)\nthe party's solicitor,\n(b)\na sheriff officer instructed by the party.\n(6)\nPersonal service may be done by a person who is authorised to do so under the domestic law of the country where the document is to be served.\nAdditional requirements\n(7)\nWhere postal service is used, the envelope containing the document must have the following label printed or written on it:\nTHIS ENVELOPE CONTAINS A [NAME OF DOCUMENT] FROM\n[NAME OF SHERIFF COURT], SCOTLAND\nIF DELIVERY CANNOT BE MADE, THE LETTER MUST BE\nRETURNED IMMEDIATELY TO THE SHERIFF CLERK AT\n[FULL ADDRESS OF SHERIFF COURT]\n(8)\nAfter formally serving a document, a Confirmation of Formal Service must be completed by the person who served it.\n(9)\nIf postal service has been used, any postal receipts must be attached to the Confirmation of Formal Service.\n(10)\nIf a solicitor or a sheriff officer has formally served a document, the Confirmation of Formal Service must be sent to the sheriff court within one week of service taking place.\n19.4\nHow can you formally serve a document on someone who lives in an EU member state (including Denmark) under the Service Regulation?\nMethod\n(1)\nThere are up to 4 ways to formally serve a document on someone who lives in an EU member state (including Denmark) under the Service Regulation, depending on what the law of that member state permits.\n(2)\nIt may be done by posting the document to the person's home or business address using a postal service which records delivery. This is called postal service.\n(3)\nIt may be done by sending the document to a messenger-at-arms and asking them to arrange for it to be served. This is called service by transmitting agency.\n(4)\nIt may be done by sending the document to a person who is entitled to serve court documents in that member state and asking them to arrange for it to be formally served. This is called direct service. This method can only be used if the law of the member state permits it.\n(5)\nIt may be done by sending the document to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and asking the Secretary of State to arrange for it to be formally served by a British consular authority. This is called consular service. This method can always be used if the document is being served on a British national. Otherwise, it can only be used if the law of the member state permits it.\nWho can formally serve the document?\n(6)\nThe sheriff clerk may formally serve a Claim Form on the respondent by postal service only if:\n(a)\nthe claimant is not a company or a partnership, and\n(b)\nthe claimant is not legally represented.\n(7)\nOtherwise, postal service may only be done by one of two persons:\n(a)\nthe party's solicitor,\n(b)\na sheriff officer instructed by the party.\n(8)\nFor the other methods of formal service, the party sends the document to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs or a person who is entitled to serve court documents in the country where the Form or Notice is to be formally served. That person will make the necessary arrangements for formal service.\nAdditional requirements\n(9)\nWhere a party chooses service by transmitting agency, the party must give the messenger-at-arms a translation of the document into a language which the recipient understands or an official language of the member state where the document is to be served.\n(10)\nAfter translating a document, the translator must complete a Translation Certificate and give it to the party who is formally serving the document.\n(11)\nWhere postal service is used, the envelope containing the document must have the following label printed or written on it:\nTHIS ENVELOPE CONTAINS A [NAME OF DOCUMENT] FROM\n[NAME OF SHERIFF COURT], SCOTLAND\nIF DELIVERY CANNOT BE MADE, THE LETTER MUST BE\nRETURNED IMMEDIATELY TO THE SHERIFF CLERK AT\n[FULL ADDRESS OF SHERIFF COURT]\n(12)\nThat label must also be translated into an official language of the country where the document is to be served, unless English is an official language of that country.\n(13)\nAfter formally serving a document by postal service, a Confirmation of Formal Service must be completed by the person who formally served it.\n(14)\nAny postal receipts must be attached to the Confirmation of Formal Service.\n(15)\nIf a solicitor or a sheriff officer has used postal service, the Confirmation of Formal Service must be sent to the sheriff court within one week of formal service taking place.\n(16)\nIf any other method of formal service was used, the party who requested service of the document must send the certificate that the party receives from the person who served the document to the sheriff court within one week of receiving it.\n(17)\nIf the document was translated into another language, the Translation Certificate must be sent to the sheriff court with the Confirmation of Formal Service or the certificate from the person who served the document.\n19.5\nHow can you formally serve a document on someone who lives in a Hague Convention country (other than an EU member state)?\nMethod\n(1)\nThere are up to 4 ways to formally serve a document on someone who lives in a Hague Convention country, depending on what the law of that country permits.\n(2)\nIt may be done by posting the document to the person's home or business address using a postal service which records delivery. This is called postal service. This method can only be used if the law of the country permits it.\n(3)\nIt may be done by sending the document to the Scottish Ministers and asking them to arrange for it to be formally served. This is called service via central authority. This method can always be used.\n(4)\nIt may be done by sending the document to the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and asking the Secretary of State to arrange for it to be formally served by a British consular authority. This is called consular service. This method can always be used if the document is being formally served on a British national. Otherwise, it can only be used if the law of the country permits it.\n(5)\nIt may be done by sending the document to a person who is entitled to serve court documents in that country and asking them to arrange for it to be formally served. This is called service by competent person. This method can only be used if the law of the country permits it.\nWho can formally serve the document?\n(6)\nThe sheriff clerk may formally serve a Claim Form on the respondent by postal service only if:\n(a)\nthe claimant is not a company or a partnership, and\n(b)\nthe claimant is not legally represented.\n(7)\nOtherwise, postal service may only be done by one of two persons:\n(a)\nthe party's solicitor,\n(b)\na sheriff officer instructed by the party.\n(8)\nFor the other methods of formal service, the party sends the Form or Notice to the Scottish Ministers, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs or a person who is entitled to serve court documents in the country where the Form or Notice is to be formally served. That person will make the necessary arrangements for formal service.\nAdditional requirements\n(9)\nAny document must be accompanied by a translation into an official language of the country where it is to be formally served, unless English is an official language of that country.\n(10)\nAfter translating a document, the translator must complete a Translation Certificate and give it to the party who is formally serving the Form or Notice.\n(11)\nWhere postal service is used, the envelope containing the document must have the following label printed or written on it:\nTHIS ENVELOPE CONTAINS A [NAME OF DOCUMENT] FROM\n[NAME OF SHERIFF COURT], SCOTLAND\nIF DELIVERY CANNOT BE MADE, THE LETTER MUST BE\nRETURNED IMMEDIATELY TO THE SHERIFF CLERK AT\n[FULL ADDRESS OF SHERIFF COURT]\n(12)\nThat label must also be translated into an official language of the country where the Form or Notice is to be served, unless English is an official language of that country.\n(13)\nAfter formally serving a document by postal service, a Confirmation of Formal Service must be completed by the person who served it.\n(14)\nAny postal receipts must be attached to the Confirmation of Formal Service.\n(15)\nIf a solicitor or a sheriff officer has used postal service, the Confirmation of Formal Service must be sent to the sheriff court within one week of service taking place.\n(16)\nIf any other method of formal service was used, the party who requested formal service of the document must send the certificate that the party receives from the person who formally served the document to the sheriff court within one week of receiving it.\n(17)\nIf the document was translated into another language, the Translation Certificate must be sent to the sheriff court with the Confirmation of Formal Service or the certificate from the person who served the document.\n19.6\nHow can you formally serve a document on someone who lives in a country with which the United Kingdom has a convention about how to serve court documents?\nMethod\n(1)\nThe ways of formally serving a document on someone who lives in a country with which the United Kingdom has a convention about how to serve court documents depends on the convention between the United Kingdom and that country.\n(2)\nAccordingly, a document can be formally served in any way that is allowed in the convention between the United Kingdom and the country where it is to be served.\nWho can formally serve the document?\n(3)\nA document can be formally served by a person who is authorised to do so by the convention between the United Kingdom and the country where it is to be served.\nAdditional requirements\n(4)\nWhere the convention requires that a document must be accompanied by a translation into an official language of the country where it is to be served, the translator must complete a Translation Certificate and give it to the party who is serving the document.\n(5)\nThe party who requested formal service of the document must send the certificate that the party receives from the person who served the document to the sheriff court within one week of receiving it.\n(6)\nIf the document was translated into another language, the Translation Certificate must be sent to the sheriff court with the certificate from the person who served the document.\n19.7\nHow can you formally serve a document on someone who lives in any other country?\nMethod\n(1)\nThere are two ways to formally serve a document on someone who lives in a country where none of the other rules apply.\n(2)\nIt can be done by posting the document to the person's home or business address using a postal service which records delivery. This is called postal service.\n(3)\nIt can also be done by using the rules for personal service under the domestic law of the country where the document is to be served. This is called personal service.\nWho can formally serve the document?\n(4)\nThe sheriff clerk may formally serve a Claim Form on the respondent by postal service only if:\n(a)\nthe claimant is not a company or a partnership, and\n(b)\nthe claimant is not legally represented.\n(5)\nOtherwise, postal service many only be done by one of two persons:\n(a)\nthe party's solicitor,\n(b)\na sheriff officer instructed by the party.\n(6)\nPersonal service may be done by a person who is authorised to do so under the domestic law of the country where the document is to be served.\nAdditional requirements\n(7)\nAny document must be accompanied by a translation into an official language of the country where it is to be formally served, unless English is an official language of that country.\n(8)\nAfter translating a document, the translator must complete a Translation Certificate and give it to the party who is formally serving the Form or Notice.\n(9)\nWhere postal service is used, the envelope containing the document must have the following label printed or written on it:\nTHIS ENVELOPE CONTAINS A [NAME OF DOCUMENT] FROM\n[NAME OF SHERIFF COURT], SCOTLAND\nIF DELIVERY CANNOT BE MADE, THE LETTER MUST BE\nRETURNED IMMEDIATELY TO THE SHERIFF CLERK AT\n[FULL ADDRESS OF SHERIFF COURT]\n(10)\nThat label must also be translated into an official language of the country where the document is to be served, unless English is an official language of that country.\n(11)\nAfter formally serving a document by postal service, a Confirmation of Formal Service must be completed by the person who served it.\n(12)\nAny postal receipts must be attached to the Confirmation of Formal Service.\n(13)\nIf a solicitor or a sheriff officer has used postal service, the Confirmation of Formal Service must be sent to the sheriff court within one week of service taking place.\n(14)\nIf any other method of formal service was used, the party who requested formal service of the document must send the certificate that the party receives from the person who formally served the document to the sheriff court within one week of receiving it.\n(15)\nIf any other method of formal service was used, the party who requested formal service of the document must also send a Method of Service Abroad Certificate to the sheriff court with the certificate that the party receives from the person who served the document to the sheriff court within one one week of receiving it.\n(16)\nIf the document was translated into another language, the Translation Certificate must be sent to the sheriff court with the Confirmation of Formal Service... or the certificate from the person who formally served the document.",
  "extent": "S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 19.3(7) inserted (31.5.2023) by Act of Sederunt (Simple Procedure Amendment) (Miscellaneous) 2022 (S.S.I. 2022/211), paras. 1(2), 2(2)(dd) (with para. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 19.3(8) substituted (28.11.2016) by Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 and Sheriff Court Rules Amendment) (No. 4) (Simple Procedure) 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/315), paras. 1(2), 7(3)(w)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in sch. 1 rule 19.4(5) substituted (30.9.2020) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/942), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 25(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in sch. 1 rule 19.4(8) substituted (30.9.2020) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/942), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 25(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 19.4(10) substituted (28.11.2016) by Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 and Sheriff Court Rules Amendment) (No. 4) (Simple Procedure) 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/315), paras. 1(2), 7(3)(x)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 19.4(11) inserted (31.5.2023) by Act of Sederunt (Simple Procedure Amendment) (Miscellaneous) 2022 (S.S.I. 2022/211), paras. 1(2), 2(2)(dd) (with para. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 19.4(13) substituted (28.11.2016) by Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 and Sheriff Court Rules Amendment) (No. 4) (Simple Procedure) 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/315), paras. 1(2), 7(3)(y)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Words in sch. 1 rule 19.5(4) substituted (30.9.2020) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/942), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 25(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "Words in sch. 1 rule 19.5(8) substituted (30.9.2020) by The Transfer of Functions (Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/942), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 25(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 19.5(10) substituted (28.11.2016) by Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 and Sheriff Court Rules Amendment) (No. 4) (Simple Procedure) 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/315), paras. 1(2), 7(3)(z)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 19.5(11) inserted (31.5.2023) by Act of Sederunt (Simple Procedure Amendment) (Miscellaneous) 2022 (S.S.I. 2022/211), paras. 1(2), 2(2)(dd) (with para. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 19.5(13) substituted (28.11.2016) by Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 and Sheriff Court Rules Amendment) (No. 4) (Simple Procedure) 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/315), paras. 1(2), 7(3)(aa)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "Words in sch. 1 rule 19.5(14) substituted (28.11.2016) by Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 and Sheriff Court Rules Amendment) (No. 4) (Simple Procedure) 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/315), paras. 1(2), 7(3)(bb)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 19.6(4) substituted (28.11.2016) by Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 and Sheriff Court Rules Amendment) (No. 4) (Simple Procedure) 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/315), paras. 1(2), 7(3)(cc)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 19.7(8) substituted (28.11.2016) by Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 and Sheriff Court Rules Amendment) (No. 4) (Simple Procedure) 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/315), paras. 1(2), 7(3)(dd)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F16",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 19.7(9) inserted (31.5.2023) by Act of Sederunt (Simple Procedure Amendment) (Miscellaneous) 2022 (S.S.I. 2022/211), paras. 1(2), 2(2)(dd) (with para. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F17",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 19.7(11) substituted (28.11.2016) by Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 and Sheriff Court Rules Amendment) (No. 4) (Simple Procedure) 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/315), paras. 1(2), 7(3)(ee)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F18",
      "text": "Word in sch. 1 rule 19.7(16) omitted (28.11.2016) by virtue of Act of Sederunt (Rules of the Court of Session 1994 and Sheriff Court Rules Amendment) (No. 4) (Simple Procedure) 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/315), paras. 1(2), 7(3)(ff)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2016/200/schedule/1/part/19",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T21:23:36.581509+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}