7.12 Service of court process through foreign governments, or judicial or consular authorities
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(1) This rule does not apply to service in —
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(a) any independent Commonwealth country;
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(b) the Republic of Ireland; or
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(c) the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands,
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unless the court process is to be served in accordance with paragraph (2).
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(2) The methods of service permitted by this rule are in addition to any method of service permitted under rule 7.9(1)(b) or (c).
SERVICE UNDER THE HAGUE CONVENTION
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(3) Court process to be served on a defendant in any country which is a party to the Hague Convention may be served —
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(a) through the authority designated under the Hague Convention in respect of that country; or
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(b) if the law of that country permits —
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(i) in the case of court process issued in a Member State, through its consular authority in that country,
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(ii) in the case of court process issued in a Territory, through the British consular authority in that country, or
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(iii) through the judicial authorities of that country.
SERVICE UNDER OTHER CONVENTIONS
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(4) Court process to be served on a defendant in any country which is a party to a Civil Procedure Convention (to which the relevant Member State or Territory is also a party or which has been extended to the relevant Member State or Territory) other than the Hague Convention providing for service of court process in that country, may be served, if the law of that country permits —
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(a) in the case of court process issued in a Member State, through its consular authority in that country (subject to any provision of the convention as to the nationality of persons who may be so served);
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(b) in the case of court process issued in a Territory, through the British consular authority in that country (subject to any provision of the convention as to the nationality of persons who may be so served); or
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(c) through the judicial authorities of that country.
SERVICE WHERE THERE IS NO APPLICABLE CONVENTION
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(5) Court process to be served on a defendant in any country with respect to which there is no relevant Civil Procedure Convention providing for service of court process in that country may be served, if the law of that country so permits —
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(a) in the case of court process issued in a Member State, through its consular authority in that country;
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(b) in the case of court process issued in a Territory, through the British consular authority in that country; or
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(c) through the government of that country, if that government is willing to serve it.