HOW THE CENTRAL AUTHORITY WORKS IN JERSEY CHANNEL ISLANDS

This article will provide guidance on how the central authority works in Jersey Channel Islands.  The executive branch of Jersey’s states and the principal government of the Bailiwick of Jersey is the Government of Jersey (Jèrriais: Gouvèrnément d’Jèrri). The executive and administrative branch of the Jersey States is officially known as the ‘Government of Jersey.’ The phrase ‘States of Jersey’ is no longer used when referring to government administrative and executive branches. Click Here for information on the Code of Civil Procedure in the Jersey Channel Islands.

Every cabinet minister must be an elected official of the state and must answer to the legislature for their decisions. Ministers have the authority to create supplementary laws, including Orders and Regulations, although the assembly is primarily responsible for the same. Click here for How the Hague Convention Simplifies International Process Service.

Our Undisputed Legal process servers are equipped to serve papers across the globe. We have served papers in the United Kingdom and the Bailiwick of Jersey. So, we’d like to ensure that our local process servers are prompt and efficient in serving your papers. Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions About Process Servers!

process Service of Summons Through the Royal Court of Jersey

Each week, the Royal Court sits on Friday to hear general matters. The names of these courts, the Samedi Court and the Judicial Greffe reflect the historical roots of Jersey law in Norman French law. An application for approval under Rule 3 must be submitted to the Greffier in writing for service of foreign papers.  An application may still be filed to the Royal Court’s Bailiff or Inferior Number of the Royal Court if it is related to or part of a matter already before them. Click here for information on How To Identify A Good Process Service Agency

The request has to demonstrate that there is a valid and debatable case based on that issue. In the request, it is very important that the plaintiff maintain a reasonable belief in the claim’s likelihood of success and that the matter is severe enough to warrant trial and provide why the claim should be brought before the courts in Jersey.  Any request must specify [A.] the nation of originating summons, [B.]  the physical and electronic addresses of the defendant, and [C.] the method for serving notice of the summons on the defendant.  In addition to stating the claim, the plaintiff must also provide reasons why they feel there is a genuine dispute between them and the defendant that the court should try. Affidavit support is required for the application. The Court will grant no authorization unless satisfied that Jersey is the correct venue for the claim. Click here for information on How Service of Process Ensures A Solid Foundation.

In cases where the court authorizes the service of summonses outside of the jurisdiction, the decision states the date of the defendant’s scheduled appearance before Jersey’s Royal Cou the court will meet or the deadline for the defendant to submit an answer or other response materials. The Royal Court may occasionally spell out the procedure for providing service and authorize or instruct the out-of-jurisdiction service of additional papers pertaining to the proceedings. Click here for information on How Process Servers Protect Your Rights: Myths Debunked

When the summons specifies that the details of the claim must be submitted after that, the specifics of the claim may be served without the court’s approval.  The manner ordered by the Royal Court must be followed for serving a Summons or other document on someone out of jurisdiction. Service cannot compel or permit any person to violate the laws of any nation in which the Summons or other document is to be served. In countries that have ratified a treaty or convention governing the service of civil proceedings, the Summons or any other document may be via the authorized authority under the applicable civil process treaty or convention about that nation. 

To serve a Summons when submitting a request to a foreign government, court, or British consulate, that party is required to file a document requesting service of the Summons, an original or certified copy of the summons, as well as any further papers or copies of papers needed by Practice Direction. In cases where the parties have submitted the paperwork, the Greffier will [A.] affix a seal to the duplicate summons or other paperwork, and [B.] send the paperwork to the bailiff. The bailiff is responsible for sending the papers to the designated authority under a civil process convention or treaty in cases where the Summons or other document is being served via such authority. However, a private process service agency like Undisputed Legal can ensure the smooth service of your papers. 

Process Service under the Hague Service Convention in Jersey

The claim from the originating court should be a government-issued document that specifies the action taken and the date it was taken in response to the request. The claim specifies which technique was utilized where more than one method was created by a consular official from the United Kingdom in the nation where the procedure required was carried out following that nation’s executive branch or court system, or when the certificate is evidence of the facts stated by the authority designated for that country under a civil procedure convention or treaty.

If there is no international treaty or convention governing the service of documents in a particular country, a party may, subject to the laws of that country, it is important to engage a private process server like those at Undisputed Legal in that country is duly authorized to serve the documents on behalf of the party seeking service.

Notifying a State with a formal request explains the filing venue as the Bailiff’s Chambers. It is important to procure an application to have the Foreign and Commonwealth Office handle the process of receiving service and retain an extra copy of the document accompanying the summons and any interpretation decreed by Rule 12 of the Rules of Court in Jersey. Proof of the proper service of a summons or other document on a particular date in response to a request may be found in an official certificate issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

A translation of the Summons or other document must accompany each copy filed under Rule 8 (service through foreign governments, judicial authorities, etc.) or Rule 11 (service of the document on a state). It has to be translated into the nation’s language where it is to be delivered, or if that nation recognizes more than one official language, the Summons or other document must be served in the appropriate official language of the location within the country.

A declaration attesting to the accuracy of the translation and including the translator’s name, address, and credentials must accompany each translation. In cases where English is an official language of the state where the summons or other document is to be served, a party is exempt from filing a translation with Rule 11 (service of summons or other document on a state).

The Court may issue any orders requiring substituted service or otherwise. An order for substituted service suspends the prescription of a right of action. Judgment cannot be obtained against the defendant unless the plaintiff files documented proof of proper service of the Summons. Any document about civil or commercial proceedings before a foreign court or tribunal to be served in Jersey must comply with the requirements of the Jersey Civil Procedure.

The Attorney General must submit a formal request for service before the Viscount can serve a Jersey resident on any document from a consular or other official of the nation if it is a convention country. In all other instances, the document must emanate from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, recommending the execution of the service.

Notary in the Jersey channel Islands

Any document may be authenticated and used globally with the help of a Notary Public, a public official who validates or certifies deeds. Notary public certification is available for testimonials, affidavits, powers of attorney, and declarations. To reduce the possibility of fraud, it is common practice to require notarization in international transactions, including verifying the parties’ identity and official position.

For a public notarial deed, the Notary Public signs the whole document, attesting to the veracity of its contents with a notarial certificate or similar. A private notarial deed entails the Notary Public just attesting to the authenticity of a client-signed private document.  Foreign authorities may verify the notary’s identity and credentials. Document authentication may be done if the nation is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention from October 5, 1961. 

The Lieutenant Governor’s Office verifies the Notary Public’s signature and seal. The majority of nations typically recognize the Apostille. This method is less expensive and takes less time. To have certain official papers produced by the Jersey government ‘legalized,’ one must request confirmation from the Legalisation Office that the signature, stamp, or seal belongs to a public official from Jersey.

If a foreign authority has requested a Jersey-issued document and specified that it must be legalized, parties may be required to do this. To ensure the document’s authenticity, the Legalisation Office will verify the signature, stamp, and seal. The document can be legalized by an official certificate, known as an ‘apostille,’ to the document affixing a stamp. 

Power of Attorney in the Jersey channel islands

If the power of attorney is registered with the Royal Court of Jersey, the Jersey Court will acknowledge it, along with similar documents like a guardianship or deputy order. After the foreign lasting power of attorney is registered, the attorney appointed under it has the legal capacity to handle Jersey assets. This is verified by a formal Act of Court document issued by the Royal Court and attached to the foreign lasting power of attorney.

A Representation form may be used to apply in chambers to register a power of attorney for overseas purposes. A Jersey-qualified attorney must submit this application together with the necessary materials. This will be the original (either registered or an equivalent) lasting power of attorney or a certified duplicate of the original that bears the court’s official seal in the foreign jurisdiction where the original was registered. The notary public may provide an official copy for use in Jersey if this is the standard practice in the country of origin for lasting power of attorney documents. The Royal Court will accept a certified copy of the registered instrument if the original document is an English enduring power of attorney.

On October 1, 2018, the ‘Capacity and Self-Determination (Jersey) Law 2016‘ (CSDL) became law. The goal of the law was to provide autonomy for as long as feasible while safeguarding individuals when they reached a point when they could no longer do so. The  ‘donor’ may appoint one or more individuals, ‘attorneys,’ to assist them in making choices or to act on their behalf by creating a lasting power of attorney (LPA) in a legal instrument.

Jersey is the only jurisdiction to approve an LPA; other nations may not. Certain non-Jersey LPAs may be registered with us, granting them the power to bind Jersey.  Two distinct LPAs address different sorts of decisions, being [A.] matters about property and financial matters, including money and assets, and your general well-being [B.] health and care, as well a. Either one sort of LPA or the party may make both. One application for each LPA is required if a client wants to apply for both.

It is important for the attendance of [A.] the donor, [B.] legal representatives, [C.] eyewitness of the donor, and [D.] testimony of a lawyer. The party must be over the age of eighteen.   A third party, the donor’s witness, verifies their knowledge of the process and the absence of coercion in your decision to form an LPA. 

Anyone testifying for a donor must be at least eighteen and qualified to serve as a Parish Constable, Deputy, or Minister in the Jersey Government Assembly or as an Official Notary. It is preferable to involve appointed counsel for the Jersey Royal Court, someone qualified to practice law in England and Wales, such as a solicitor or barrister, or someone who is similarly qualified under the laws of another nation. This can also include a licensed medical practitioner, such as a social worker, psychiatrist, psychologist, or an individual credentialed as a certified public accountant in the state of Jersey or by a comparable organization in another country.

The LPA becomes null and void at the donor’s death, and the attorney’s authority to act accordingly immediately terminates. Since the LPA is not meant to replace a will, it is optional to contain the usual choices or directions included in a will. The Donor and the Attorney must provide certified identifying papers that meet certificate standards. This may be in the form of a bank statement, share value, or something similar. The Royal Court’s stamp duty cost for registering this sort of document in Jersey amounts to £330, as shown on a Treasury receipt.

An affidavit signed by a lawyer in the jurisdiction where the foreign lasting power of attorney (or its equivalent) was created is also required to establish that the document can be legally effective and used without formal registration in the country.

Undisputed Legal is here to help you when you need your documents in Jersey. It is our understanding that the service of process requirements varies between papers. Because of this, we will stop at nothing to guarantee that the destination state will accept your paperwork. Regardless of the court, the papers, or the deadline you need, Undisputed Legal will ensure the timely delivery of your paperwork. If you found this article helpful, kindly consider leaving us a review. Click the link to share your feedback, and we would greatly appreciate a five-star review.

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 receives all documents.

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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

You can 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 help you out. We can handle all your Jersey Channel Islands process service needs; every job is just enough and large!

Please feel free to 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. Rule 3 Service of Process Rules 2019

Grounds for Service out of the jurisdiction

(1) The plaintiff may serve a Summons out of the jurisdiction with the permission of the Court if any of the grounds specified in the Schedule applies.

(2) Despite paragraph (1), where the parties to a contract have agreed that a Summons can be served in orsdiction in a manner specified in the contract, service in the manner specified shall be good and effective service wherever out of the juriperson to be served is resident.

2. Rebecca Morley-Kirk

3. A person is considered a defendant if they are either a permanent resident of the jurisdiction or have a residential and employment status as defined by the Control of Housing and Work (Jersey) Law 2012.

4. A non-party to the proceedings who receives notice of proceedings under these Rules but is not a party to the proceedings may, as a party, apply to the Court under Rule 6/7 of the Royal Court Rules 2004 to contest the Court’s jurisdiction.

5. Alternatively, service may be done using any procedure outlined in 

  1. Rule 8 (notice given by foreign court systems, consular offices, or government agencies),
  2. Rule 10 provides for other means of service,
  3. Rule 11 (Notice to a State Regarding Summons or Other Documents);
  4. in a way that is authorized by a treaty or convention on civil procedure or

via any other lawful means recognized by the recipient’s country.

6. If it is legal in that nation, service can be done via the court system of that nation or  via the British Consulate (subject to any rules stated in the relevant treaty regarding the nationality of individuals who may be served in this way.) Suppose the legislation of the nation where the requested document is to be served allows it. In that case, a party may serve the Summons or other document there even if no civil process convention or treaty addresses this country.

 7. Royal Court Practice Direction RC 20/09 Practice Direction for Service of Process

8. A defendant is ordered to conduct or abstain from an action within the jurisdiction by an application for an injunction

9. Whenever one of the parties wants to deliver the Summons or any other document in –
(a) any Commonwealth state that has not joined the Hague Convention or that has joined but the UK government has not acknowledged it;
(a) the UK, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man; or
(b) any foreign territory of the United Kingdom,
Either the parties or their agent must execute service, or the Court may mandate an alternative manner.

10. Section 14 of the State Immunity Act 1978 (as extended to Jersey by the State Immunity (Jersey) Order 1985

11. Royal Court Service of Process Rules 2019 12 Translation of summons or other document

12. When serving a Summons or other document under Rule 8 (by foreign governments, judicial bodies, etc.), a party is exempt from filing a translation of the document. in a nation in which English is an official language; or on a person who is a citizen of the United Kingdom (as defined by the British Nationality Act of 1981), unless a treaty or convention about civil procedure requires a translation.

13. A personal guarantee from the party requesting service must accompany any request for service under Rules 8 (service via foreign governments, judicial agencies, etc.) or Rule 11 (delivery of summons or other document on a State) —
(a) to pay for any costs that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or a foreign court claims; and
(b) as soon as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or a foreign court authority is notified of the amount to pay such expenditures.

14. Rule 5/5 of the Royal Court Rules of Jersey 

 Service through the intermediary of the Viscount’s Department: when required

Service through the intermediary of the Viscount’s Department is required –

(a) where personal service is required;

(b) in an action resulting from the raising of the Clameur de Haro;

(c) in the case of a summons –

(i) to witness the confirmation of an arrest,

(ii) to appear in court in pursuance of an order of justice regarding the appointment

of an administrator or a guardian,

(iii) to reply to an appeal the determination of which, or to a reference the

determination of which is within the competence of the Court

15. ROYAL COURT OF JERSEY RC22/03 THE CAPACITY AND SELF-DETERMINATION (JERSEY) LAW 2016 (‘the Law’)

Registration of Foreign Powers of Attorney/Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA) /Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) and Acts of Courts

1. Under Royal Court Rule 17/3(1)(b), the Judicial Greffier is empowered to transact the following business in chambers, namely –

(b) the hearing and determination of an application for registration of a power of attorney or of an instrument revoking or abandoning a power of attorney.

2. Under Article 13 of the Capacity and Self Determination (Jersey) Law 2016:

‘(2) Where a power of attorney is first registered (by ‘original registration’) in a jurisdiction of the British Islands other than Jersey, it may have effect in Jersey –

(a) if such evidence as to the original registration as the States may by Regulations require is provided to the Judicial Greffe; and 

(b) for so long as the original registration validly subsists, as though it were a lasting power of attorney created and registered in Jersey under paragraph (1), and for this purpose, the Judicial Greffe shall register and deal with such a power of attorney by Part 2 of the Schedule subject to such modifications as the States may by Regulations make to the Schedule for this purpose

16. Rules for carrying out the 2016 Capacity and Self-Determination (Jersey) Law are laid forth in the Code of Practice.

17. The Judicial Greffe can help apply to the Royal Court to have someone appointed as a delegate.

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