General information
Regulation (EU) 2020/1784 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the service in the Member States of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters (service of documents) (recast) seeks to improve and expedite the transmission of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters for service between the Member States. The Regulation replaced Council Regulation (EC) No 1393/2007 as of 1 July 2022.
However, the decentralised IT system as an obligatory means of communication to be used for the transmission and receipt of requests, forms and other communication will only start applying from 1 May 2025 (the first day of the month following the period of three years after the date of entry into force of the implementing act referred to in Article 25 (for further details see Article 37 of Regulation (EU) 2020/1784)).
The Regulation applies between all Member States of the European Union including Denmark, which confirmed its intention to implement the content of the Regulation by means of a declaration based on a parallel agreement concluded with the European Community.
The Regulation provides for different ways of transmitting and serving documents: transmission through transmitting and receiving agencies, transmission by consular or diplomatic channels, service by postal services, electronic service and direct service.
Transmitting Agencies are competent for the transmission of judicial or extrajudicial documents to be served in another Member State. Receiving Agencies are competent for the receipt of judicial or extrajudicial documents from another Member State. The Central Body is responsible for supplying information to the transmitting agencies and seeking solutions to any difficulties which may arise during transmission of documents for service.
The Regulation provides for twelve forms.
The European e-Justice Portal provides you with information concerning the application of the Regulation and a user-friendly tool for filling in the forms.
Please select the relevant country's flag to obtain detailed national information.
Related links
Agreement between the European Community and the Kingdom of Denmark on the service of judicial and extrajudicial documents in civil or commercial matters
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