CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE IN MONTENEGRO

This article will provide guidance on Code of Civil Procedure in Montenegro? Montenegro is a parliamentary republic with a mixed legal system based on civil law and common law traditions. The Constitution of Montenegro serves as the country's supreme legal document, setting out the basic structure of government and citizens' fundamental rights and freedoms. The Constitution also establishes the separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.

Montenegro has a complex legal system that is influenced by a variety of factors, including its history, geography, and economic development. The country's legal system is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of its citizens and the international community. Consequently, placing your trust in a private process service agency like Undisputed Legal is advisable. Our private process servers in Montenegro are often highly trained and experienced professionals who deeply understand the country's laws and regulations. This knowledge can be invaluable when it comes to ensuring that your legal papers are served in accordance with local rules and procedures. 

BACKGROUND

The Montenegrin Law determines the jurisdiction in Code of Civil Procedure in Montenegro. Montenegro has a dual system of courts: courts of general jurisdiction and specialized courts. The courts of general jurisdiction include basic courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court of Montenegro.

In general, the jurisdiction of Montenegro courts is determined by the subject matter and the territorial jurisdiction. Subject matter jurisdiction refers to the type of case that the court can hear. In contrast, territorial jurisdiction refers to the location of the court relative to the parties and the subject matter of the case.

In addition to the above, Montenegro also recognizes the principle of exclusive jurisdiction, meaning that a specific court can only hear certain cases. Courts are responsible for determining whether or not they have jurisdiction over a certain case after receiving a claim.

If during the case, it is determined that a domestic court does not have jurisdiction over the dispute, that court should declare that it is not competent, annul the actions conducted in the procedure, and reject the complaint, unless the domestic court's jurisdiction is contingent on the consent of the defendant, in which case the defendant has consented to the case being heard in that court.

Every court has the authority to hear and decide cases within its geographical area. The court must also execute certain activities on the territory of another court if there is a substantial risk of delay in doing so. The court whose jurisdiction encompasses the location where the actions will be conducted must be notified of this.  Trials involving foreign persons who have immunity and trials involving foreign nations and international organizations are subject to the jurisdiction of the Republic of Montenegro courts, which are governed by the principles of international law. Where Law or an international convention specifically provides for its jurisdiction, it is competent to intervene in the dispute, including international aspects.

Undisputed Legal follows all the criteria of jurisdiction necessary in Montenegro. We ensure that your papers adhere to the originating and the receiving court’s legal requirements so that service can be done reliably and efficiently. 

SERVICE OF PROCESS IN MONTENEGRO

The Code of Civil Procedure in Montenegro governs service of process in Montenegro. Montenegro is a party to the Hague Service Convention, which provides for the service of documents between signatory countries. This involves sending the documents to the designated central authority in the originating country, which will forward them to the central authority in Montenegro. 

The defendant has thirty days from the day the court receives an accurate and comprehensive complaint to respond to the allegations made against them. Within thirty days of receiving the complaint and any supporting documents, the defendant must file an answer in writing with the court. When serving the defendant with the complaint, the court must inform the defendant of the required contents of the response to the complaint and the consequences of failing to respond to the complaint within the set deadline.

Suppose the defendant disputes the allegations in the plaintiff's statement of claims. In that case, the defendant's answer to the complaint must also include the facts upon which the defendant's position is based and the evidence supporting the defendant's position.  In the absence of an authorized representative or agent, delivery will be made directly to the addressee. It is not necessary to identify a specific representative or agent of the party to whom the document is to be sent. However, our  Undisputed Legal process servers can also help to ensure that your legal papers are served discreetly and professionally. 

REQUIREMENTS OF A CLAIM IN MONTENEGRO

The complaint must include the plaintiff's precise claim with regard to the primary subject matter and any related claims, the specific facts upon which the claim is based, the specific evidence upon which the claim is based, and any additional information required for the pleading. A receipt for the filing fee payment must be included with the complaint. If the plaintiff does not pay the prescribed fee within ten days after the court's warning, as required under the rules on court charges, and if the grounds for their exemption from the payment of charges do not exist, the complaint must be deemed withdrawn.

The plaintiff may file a statement of claims with the court in addition to the existing claim if the existence or non-existence of the right or legal relationship which became disputable during the litigation is relevant to the decision on the dispute and the court conducting the litigation has jurisdiction to decide on such a claim.

A complaint that has been withdrawn is treated as if it had never been submitted and might be refiled at a later date. The clock in a lawsuit starts ticking when the defendant receives the complaint. The clock on the lawsuit will begin ticking as of the time the other party is notified of the claim made by the party during the process. The court of the first instance must automatically take into account whether or not another case involving the same parties and the same claim is already pending.

Suppose a criminal or commercial offense prosecutable ex officio has been committed. In that case, the identity of the offender, whether or not the offender is responsible, and especially if there is doubt that the witness or expert witness has given false testimony or if the document used as evidence is false, the court may order a stay of the procedure. A deadline extension request must be made before the deadline's expiration. There will be no more appeals on the decision to extend the deadline. When a deadline is expressed in terms of days, the first day after the event from which the deadline is to be calculated should be considered the commencement of the deadline rather than the day on which delivery or notice occurs. 

Specific procedures and requirements for serving a complaint in Montenegro may vary depending on the circumstances of the case and the local rules and procedures. It is important to consult with a qualified private process service agency like Undisputed Legal which has experience serving legal documents in Montenegro. We have served legal papers across the world and can provide guidance and support throughout the process. 

INTERNATIONAL process service IN MONTENEGRO

The Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters came into force on November 15, 1965. It details the channels that must be used when sending a document from one State Party to another in order to effect service in the destination State Party. The Hague Service Convention establishes both a canonical transmission channel and a number of secondary channels for sending and receiving broadcasts.

For legal documents to be transferred across jurisdictions in different EU member states, the EU Service Regulation must be followed. Although the United Kingdom is a contracting party to the Hague Service Convention in its own right, most requests for service between the United Kingdom and EU member states will continue to be regulated by the convention once the transition period ends. 

Serving a complaint in Montenegro as an international private process server requires compliance with the Hague Service Convention. Our Undisputed Legal process servers are highly skilled at conducting research and ensuring that the papers are compliant with international requirements. The complaint must be translated into Montenegrin, the official language of Montenegro, and accompanied by a translation certificate. The complaint and any other supporting documents must be certified by the court that issued them and authenticated with an apostille.

Because of the Convention's exclusivity, only the transmission channels it specifies may be used under certain circumstances. It is important to keep in mind that the law of the forum determines whether or not transmission to another Contracting Party is required when the issue is being debated. The documents must be submitted to the Central Authority of Montenegro, which is responsible for receiving and processing requests for service of process under the Hague Service Convention. The Central Authority will review the documents and ensure that they comply with the requirements of the Convention. Once the Central Authority has approved the documents, they will be forwarded to a local process server for service. The local process server will then serve the complaint on the defendant in accordance with local rules and procedures.

The principal transmission channel for requests for service under the Convention is from a competent authority or judicial officer in one Contracting Party to the Central Authority of the other Contracting Party where service is to be provided. Submissions must use the Model Form as specified by the Convention.

The requesting Contracting Party's Central Authority is obligated to ensure that the document requiring Montenegro Process Service is served or delivered by a competent authority in line with that country's laws. The applicant (i.e., the sending authority of the requesting Contracting Party) may request a particular method or Montenegro Process Service so long as it is not illegal under the laws of the requesting Contracting Party. Finally, the entity carrying out the request must fill out the certificate attached to the Convention, indicating whether or not the process service was delivered in Montenegro.

Undisputed Legal can help provide greater control and oversight over the process of serving papers. This can be especially important when dealing with complex cross-border legal matters that require close attention and monitoring. Our agency assures high professionalism, expertise, speed, and efficiency when serving papers in Montenegro. By employing our Undisputed Legal process servers, you can be confident that your legal documents will be served promptly, efficiently, and effectively while ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations.

OUR PROCESS

Documents can be faxed at (800) 296-0115, emailed to ps@undisputedlegal.com, or uploaded to our website. We do require prepayment and accept all major credit and debit cards. Once payment is processed, your sales receipt is immediately emailed for your records.

Drop-offs must call and make an appointment first to be added to building security to permit access to our office. Documents for service must be in a sealed envelope with payment in the form of a money order or attorney check (WE DO NOT ACCEPT CASH) payable to UNDISPUTED LEGAL INC.; Our receptionist will receive all documents.

DOMESTIC COVERAGE AREAS:

Alaska | Alabama | Arkansas | Arizona | California | Colorado | Connecticut | District of Columbia | Delaware| Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Iowa | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maryland | Massachusetts | Maine | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | North Carolina | North Dakota | Nebraska | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | Nevada | New York | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Virginia | Vermont | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming

INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE AREAS:

Albania | Andorra | Anguilla | Antigua | Argentina | Armenia | Australia | Austria | Azerbaijan | Bahamas | Barbados | Belarus | Belgium | Belize | Bermuda | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Botswana | Brazil | British Honduras | British Virgin Islands | Bulgaria | Canada | Cayman Islands | Central and Southern Line Islands | Chile|China (Macao)| China People's Republic | Colombia | Costa Rica | Country of Georgia | Croatia | Cyprus| Czech Republic | Denmark | Dominican Republic | Ecuador | Egypt | Estonia | Falkland Islands and Dependences | Fiji | Finland | France | Germany | Gibraltar | Gilbert and Ellice Islands | Greece | Guernsey | Hong Kong | Hungary | Iceland | India | Ireland | Isle of Man | Israel | Italy | Jamaica | Japan | Jersey Channel Islands | Jordan | Kazakhstan | Korea | Kuwait | Latvia | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malawi | Malaysia | Malta| Mauritius | Mexico| MonacoMontenegro | Montserrat | Morocco | Namibia | Netherlands | New Zealand|Nicaragua | Norway | Pakistan | Panama | Paraguay| Peru | Philippines | Pitcairn |Poland | Portugal | Republic of Moldova | Republic of North Macedonia | Romania|Russian Federation | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | San Marino | Saudi Arabia | Serbia | Seychelles | Singapore| Slovakia | Slovenia | South Africa | Spain | Sri Lanka | St. Helena and Dependencies | St. Lucia | Sweden| Switzerland | Taiwan | Thailand | Tunisia | Turkey | Turks and Caicos Islands| UkraineUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Uruguay | US Virgin Islands | Uzbekistan | Venezuela | Vietnam

OFFICE LOCATIONS

New York: (212) 203-8001 – 590 Madison Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, New York 10022
Brooklyn: (347) 983-5436 – 300 Cadman Plaza West, 12th Floor, Brooklyn, New York 11201
Queens: (646) 357-3005 – 118-35 Queens Blvd, Suite 400, Forest Hills, New York 11375
Long Island: (516) 208-4577 – 626 RXR Plaza, 6th Floor, Uniondale, New York 11556
Westchester: (914) 414-0877 – 50 Main Street, 10th Floor, White Plains, New York 10606
Connecticut: (203) 489-2940 – 500 West Putnam Avenue, Suite 400, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
New Jersey: (201) 630-0114 - 101 Hudson Street, 21 Floor, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
Washington DC: (202) 655-4450 - 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Suite 300, Washington DC 20004

FOR ASSISTANCE SERVING LEGAL PAPERS IN MONTENEGRO

Simply pick up the phone and call Toll-Free (800) 774-6922 or click the service you want to purchase. Our dedicated team of professionals is ready to assist you. We can handle all your Montenegro process service needs; no job is too small or too large!

Contact us for more information about our process-serving agency. We are ready to provide service of process to all our clients globally from our offices in New York, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Washington, D.C.

"Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives"- Foster, William A

Sources

1. For example, the basic courts have jurisdiction over civil disputes involving amounts up to €5,000, while high courts have jurisdiction over disputes involving amounts greater than €5,000. The Commercial Court has jurisdiction over commercial disputes, while the Administrative Court has jurisdiction over cases involving administrative disputes. The High Misdemeanor Court has jurisdiction over cases involving minor criminal offenses.

2. To the extent that the court of second instance is competent for resolving the conflict of jurisdiction between those courts, its decision acting on an appeal against a first instance decision declaring that it does not have territorial jurisdiction shall be binding on the court to which the case has been forwarded.

3. The defendant, in answer to the complaint, must inform the plaintiff of any potential objections to service of process, say whether or not they accept the claim asserted in the complaint, and provide any additional information that every written pleading must have

4. In the event that the individual to whom the writ is addressed refuses to accept delivery of the writ without a good reason, the writ must be left at the person's home or place of business and posted on the door. When a writ is left where it may be discovered, it is considered to have been served on the person who placed it there.

5. a plaintiff can include two or more linked statements of claims in a single lawsuit and ask the court to accept the subsequent claim if it rejects the one before it (alternation of claims).

6. Dates of completion will be specified in months and years.

7. Any time limit expressed as a number of months or years will conclude on the final day of the month or year that has the same number as the day the time limit was established. The deadline will be the month's final day if there is no such day.

If the deadline's last day is a weekend or holiday on which court services are not provided, the deadline will be extended until the end of the next business day.

8. Every single EU member except Austria and Malta signed the Hague Service Convention before it became EU legislation. Having been inspired by Austria's signature, Malta has joined the Convention.

9. The Commission set seven primary aims for Montenegro's application to be accorded candidate status before negotiations could begin in 2010, while the Council gave a positive opinion in the same year. The Council's admissions process officially began up in December 2011, with preliminary talks scheduled to begin in June 2012.

10. On 16 January 2012, the depositary of the Hague Conventions received the instruments of accession from Montenegro to (1) the Hague Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters and (2) the Hague Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters.

Montenegro has thus become the 65th Contracting State to the Service Convention and the 56th Contracting State to the Evidence Convention.

11. Ministry of Foreign Affairs & European Integration

Department of Multilateral Relations

Stanka Dragojevica 

81000 PODGORICA s

Montenegro