{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-rules-1981/rule-19",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-rules-1981/rule-19.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1981/552",
  "legislation_title": "The Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-rules-1981",
  "path": "rule/19",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "19",
  "heading": "Service of order",
  "text": "Unless the court otherwise directs—\n(a) a domestic abuse protection order must be served on the defendant; and\n(b) service must be effected—\n(i) by a constable or by an employee of a police authority, and\n(ii) by handing a copy of the order to the defendant in person.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Rules 17-23 and cross-heading (previously omitted by virtue of S.I. 2021/626, rule 2(12)(c)(d)) inserted (8.4.2024) by The Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/254), rules 1(2), 2(6)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1981/552/rule/19",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T18:40:56.682539+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."
}