Request in Québec for the service of documents from abroad
Description
You can request the service of a judicial or extrajudicial document from a foreign State in Québec.
The Central Authority for Québec will process your request.
You must be an authorized legal professional in the foreign State to handle such a request in Québec.
Important
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The documents from these States only can be served in Québec under the Hague Convention;
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Proceedings in criminal, tax and administrative matters cannot be served under the Convention;
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The Convention does not apply when the recipient’s address is unknown.
Procedure
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Complete 2 copies of the form required by the Hague Convention;
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Provide 2 copies of the judicial or extrajudicial document1to be served;
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Have them translated into French (please see Translation requirements);
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Pay the costs associated with your request;
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Send all documents (including proof or your payment) by mail only to the following address:
Central Authority for Québec
Direction des orientations et des affaires législatives – Entraide internationale
Ministère de la Justice
1200 De l’Église Road, 4th floor
Québec, Québec G1V 4M1
Canada
Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.
PROCESSING
The Central Authority for Québec forwards both copies of the form to a bailiff who has jurisdiction in the area in Québec where the addressee resides.
The bailiff’s return of service and the completed certificate are sent to the requesting authority together with the second copy of the documents.
Where the address of a recipient is incorrect, the Central Authority for Québec is under no obligation to determine it since the Convention shall not apply where the address of the person to be served is not known.
AFFIDAVIT OF BAILIFF
Bailiffs are public officers and, as such, are not required to be sworn. Furthermore, their duties do not include requiring the recipient of a document to provide specific information (such as marital status).
1 A summons and a complaint are one document.
