International Service of Process Overview

The U.S. Department of Justice awarded ABC Legal the contract to execute requests for service of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil and commercial matters directed at private individuals and companies in the United States.

The contract was awarded beginning on January 15, 2020, under contract #15JPSS20C00000051, and is effective until January 31, 2025. ABC Legal manages all formal requests for service of judicial and extrajudicial documents pursuant to the Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters (“Hague Service Convention”), the Additional Protocol to the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory (“Inter-American Convention”), and letters rogatory service requests received through diplomatic channels.

There is a $95.00 USD fee to serve documents within the United States and its territories submitted pursuant to the Hague Service Convention or for requests submitted through diplomatic channels. The fee is payable to ABC Legal. There is no fee for service requests submitted pursuant to the Inter-American Convention.

Requests for service on the United States Government, which includes its departments, agencies, or instrumentalities, should be sent directly to the U.S. Central Authority, the Office of International Judicial Assistance (“OIJA”). There is no fee for service requests designated for the United States Government. Requests for service on the United States Government should be mailed directly to OIJA at U.S. Central Authority, U.S. Department of Justice, P.O. Box 14360, Washington, DC 20044 USA. For more information, please see OIJA’s Guidance on Service on the U.S. Government available on OIJA’s website here.

ABC Legal, acting on behalf of the U.S. Central Authority, is the only recognized process server to receive requests for service submitted pursuant to the Hague Service Convention, the Inter-American Convention, and letters rogatory service requests through diplomatic channels for civil or commercial matters. Under this contract, ABC Legal shall perform the service-related activities of the U.S. Central Authority with respect to service on private individuals and companies. Only ABC Legal can issue the official certificate in conformity with formal service in the United States pursuant to the Hague Service Convention and the Inter-American Convention. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Judicial Assistance, however, remains the U.S. Central Authority in all other aspects in relation to these Conventions.

Please note, for requests sent pursuant to the Hague Service Convention and through diplomatic channels, ABC Legal acts on behalf of the U.S. Central Authority for incoming service requests only. Outgoing requests for service in foreign countries do not need to be processed by ABC Legal. ABC Legal, however, processes both incoming and outgoing requests for service pursuant to the Inter-American Convention.

For additional information on the U.S. Central Authority and service requests, please visit OIJA’s website here.

Learn more about serving process with ABC Legal’s private commercial business here.