Rule 4.11 Date of serviceI1
England and Wales
A document served under rule 4.3 or rule 4.8 is served on the day it is handed over.
Unless something different is shown, a document served on a person by any other method is served—
in the case of a document left at an address, on the next business day after the day on which it was left;
in the case of a document sent by first class post or by the equivalent of first class post, on the second business day after the day on which it was posted or despatched;
in the case of a document served by document exchange, on the second business day after the day on which it was left at a document exchange allowed by rule 4.5;
in the case of a document served by electronic means—
on the day on which the document is sent under rule 4.6(2)(a) or on which notice of its deposit is given under rule 4.6(2)(b), if that day is a business day and if the document is so sent or that notice is given by no later than 2.30pm that day,
if the document is an application for permission to refer a sentencing case under rule 41.2 (Service of notice of reference and application for permission), on the day on which the document is so sent or on which notice of its deposit is so given if that day is a business day and if that document is sent or the notice given by no later than 5pm that day,
in an extradition appeal case in the High Court, on the day on which the document is so sent or on which notice of its deposit is so given if that day is a business day and if the document is sent or the notice given by no later than 4.30pm that day (or by no later than midnight at the end of that day if the document is an appeal notice served under rule 50.19 (Service of appeal notice)),
on the day of its deposit under rule 4.6(2)(b), if that day is a business day and if under rule 4.6(3)(b) no notice of deposit is required, or
otherwise, on the next business day after it was sent, deposited or such notice was given; and
in any case, on the day on which the addressee responds to it, if that is earlier.
Unless something different is shown, a document produced by a computer system for dispatch by post is to be taken as having been sent by first class post, or by the equivalent of first class post, to the addressee on the business day after the day on which it was produced.
Where a document is served on or by the court officer or the Registrar of Criminal Appeals, ‘business day’ does not include a day on which the relevant court office is closed.