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EmailHague Convention on Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters
DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IN THIS CIRCULAR RELATING TO THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN COUNTRIES IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE IN A PARTICULAR CASE. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN COUNSEL OR THE FOREIGN CENTRAL AUTHORITY FOR THE CONVENTION.
IN FORCE : ANGUILLA 1 , ARGENTINA (excludes recognition of the extension of the Convention by the United Kingdom to the MALVINAS, SOUTH GEORGIA and SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS), ARUBA 2 , AUSTRALIA, BARBADOS, BULGARIA, CAYMAN ISLANDS 1 , CHINA 8 , CYPRUS, CZECH REPUBLIC 3 , DENMARK, DJIBOUTI 4,5 , ESTONIA, FALKLAND ISLANDS 1 , FINLAND, FRANCE, FRENCH GUIANA 5 , FRENCH POLYNESIA 5 , GERMANY, GIBRALTAR 1 , GUADELOUPE 5 , GUERNSEY 1 , HONG KONG SAR 7,1 , ISLE OF MAN 1 , ISRAEL, ITALY, JERSEY 1 , LATVIA, LUXEMBOURG, MACAO SAR 6 , MARTINIQUE 5 , MEXICO, MONACO, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, POLAND, PORTUGAL, SAINT PIERRE AND MIQUELON 5 , SINGAPORE, SLOVAK REPUBLIC 3 , SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS OF AKROTIRI AND DHEKELIA 1 , SPAIN, SWEDEN, SWITZERLAND, UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES, VENEZUELA.
1 The Convention was extended to this territory, possession or other jurisdiction by the United Kingdom.
2 The Convention was extended to this territory, possession or other jurisdiction by the Netherlands.
3 In accordance with Article 34(1) of the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties, the U.S. view is that when a country which is a party to a multilateral treaty or convention has dissolved, the successor state(s) inherit the treaty obligations of the former government, consistent with Article 34 of the Vienna Convention. However, as a practical matter, the custom is for depositories to expect a notice of succession to confirm that the new entity is performing its treaty obligations. Many newly independent states may not really be implementing such conventions at this time in that they may not be performing the functions set forth in the Convention. We continue to work with these governments and the depositories to obtain confirmation that the respective successor state is complying with treaty obligations.
4 This country has achieved independence. No declaration has been made on the continuation in force of the Convention. We have requested the assistance of the Hague Conference on Private International Law in ascertaining from these countries whether they are applying the Convention.
5 The Convention was extended to this territory, possession or other jurisdiction by France.
6 The Convention was extended to this territory, possession or other jurisdiction by Portugal.
7 Hong Kong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China on July 1, 1997 in accordance with the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. The People's Republic of China has advised the United States that the Hague Service and Evidence Conventions remain in effect for Hong Kong and that the Hong Kong Central Authorities continue to be located in Hong Kong. See list of Central Authorities.
8 Upon its accession to the Hague Evidence Convention, China declared that the provisions of Chapter II of the Convention except for Article 15 will not be applicable. The United States is seeking clarification from the People's Republic of China regarding its interpretation and implementation of the Convention.
CITATIONS : 23 U.S.T. 2555; T.I.A.S. 7444; 847 UNTS 231; 28 U.S.C.A. 1782 (1975 Cum. Supp.); 28 U.S.C.A. following 1781 (Supp. 1979); 8 I.L.M. 37 (1969); Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Law Digest Volume, Selected International Conventions; Ristau, International Judicial Assistance (Civil and Commercial), International Law Institute, (1995 supp.), Appendix C, A-50 ff.
PURPOSE : The Hague Evidence Convention codifies the taking of depositions on notice and commission before consuls and court appointed commissioners, providing minimum standards with which contracting states agree to comply. The Convention's primary purpose is to reconcile different, often conflictive, discovery procedures in civil and common law countries. The Convention also streamlines procedures for compulsion of evidence, utilizing a form "letter of request" which can be sent directly by the court in the U.S. to a foreign central authority, eliminating the cumbersome "diplomatic channel". (See International Soc''y for Krishna Consciousness, Inc. v. Lee, 105 F.R.D. 435, 442-443 (S.D.N.Y. 1984) and Philadelphia Gear Corp. v. American Pfauter Corp., 100 F.R.D. 58, 59 (E.D. Pa. 1983). The foreign central authorities are listed below. (Note: Rule 28(b) F.R.Cv.P. provides for depositions to be taken abroad pursuant to "any applicable treaty or convention.") For a general discussion of the Convention, see, Restatement (Third) Foreign Relations Law of the United States Sec. 473 (2) (1987); Ristau, International Judicial Assistance (Civil and Commercial), International Law Institute, Sec. 5-1-1 - 5-3-4, pp. 159-237, (1995 Supp.); Epstein & Snyder, International Litigation: A Guide to Litigation, Practice & Strategy, 2nd, Prentice Hall Law & Business, Sec. 10.10 - pp. 10-17 - 10-33 (1994 Supp.); Moore's Federal Practice, 3rd, Sec. 28.11, p. 28-9 - 28-22 (March 1997); Digest of United States Practice in International Law, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser, 1973, p. 210-213; 1976, p. 309; 1977, p. 490-492; 1978, p. 870-878, 1709; 1979, 891; 1980, 504-505; 1981-1988 Cumulative Digest, 1409, 1419, 1425-1426, 1509, 1510-1516. 1550, 1557, 1564.
DECLARATIONS AND RESERVATIONS: Each country had the opportunity of making reservations and declarations regarding the applicability of each article of the Convention. This makes the Convention different for each country, so it is important to review our country-specific judicial assistance flyers.
EXCLUSIVITY: The nonexclusivity of the Hague Evidence Convention procedures was at issue in Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale v. U.S. District Court, 482 U.S. 522, 96 L.Ed.2d 461, 107 S.Ct. 2542 (1987) , where the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Convention did not bar a district court, pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, from ordering a foreign litigant over which that court exercised personal jurisdiction to produce evidence located within the foreign litigant's own territory. But see , "Selected Cases" below. For a discussion of the Aerospatiale case and the nonexclusivity of the Convention, see Cumulative Digest of United States Practice in International Law, 1981-1988,
U.S. Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser, Vol. 2, p. 1516-1524 (1994) and Vol. 3, p. 3704-3707 (1995), Ristau, Sec. 5-2-7, pp. 229-231.5 (1995 Supp.), Born & Westin, 319,334; Epstein & Snyder, Sec. 10.11 - 10.12, pp. 10-20, 10-27; Wright, Miller & Marcus, Federal Practice and Procedure, Civil, Sec. 2005.1, p. 68-76 (1994) and 1996 pocket part; Moore's Federal Practice, Sec. 28.11[3], p. 28-11- 28-12, and other treatises on the subject, some of which are noted under "Selected References" below.
SCOPE OF THE CONVENTION: Article 1 of the Convention provides that assistance is to be provided in "civil and commercial" matters. The term "civil and commercial" is not defined. See Ristau, Sec. 5-1-4, p. 162-168, (1995 Supp.), Born & Westin 310,312; and the Reports of the Special Commissions on the operation of the Convention noted below.
U.S. CENTRAL AUTHORITY: Office of International Judicial Assistance, Civil Division, Department of Justice, 1100 L St., N.W., Room 11006, Washington, D.C. 20530, tel: (202) 307-0983; fax: (202) 514-6584.
TAKING DEPOSITIONS OF WILLING WITNESSES: Each country party to the Convention made specific reservations and declarations when they deposited their instruments of accession to the Convention. Some countries allow the taking of depositions of willing witnesses only under certain specific conditions. For example, some countries require case-by-case permission from the foreign central authority before a voluntary deposition can be taken. See our country-specific flyers for details. The declarations and reservations made by countries party to the Convention can be found in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Selected International Conventions (via the Internet, Martindale-Hubbell website: http://www.martindale.com/products/intl law dir.html) and in the Practical Handbook on the Operation of the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad. See Ristau, Sec. 5-3-1- 5-2-4, pp. 232-238.4, (1995 Supp.) and Born & Westin, 315-317; Epstein & Snyder, Sec. 10.10[4], pp. 10.18 -10-20. Consult our country-specific flyers; see "Additional Information" below.
DEPOSITIONS TAKEN BY COURT APPOINTED COMMISSIONERS OTHER THAN CONSULAR OFFICERS: Article 17 provides for the possibility of court appointed commissioners to take depositions under restrictions similar to those confronting consular officers. To date, only Finland and the United States have given broad permission for court appointed commissioners to take depositions. The United Kingdom approves such depositions on a reciprocal basis. But see our country specific flyers for additional details. Some countries, such as Denmark and Portugal, made specific declarations prohibiting such activities by court appointed commissioners. In other countries, specific permission must be sought from the foreign central authority for a commissioner other than a consular officer to conduct depositions. See Ristau, Sec. 5-3-3, pp. 236-238, (1995 Supp.); Born & Westin 316.
ARRANGING CONSULAR DEPOSITIONS: When a U.S. consular officer is needed to preside at the taking of a voluntary deposition at an American embassy or consulate scheduling depositions is done directly by our embassies and consulates at a time and date mutually convenience to the participants and the consular officer. The U.S. consular officer generally administers the oaths to the witnesses, court reporter and interpreter and withdraws, subject to recall. The actual questions are posed by the attorneys. (See 22 C.F.R. 92.56, consular officers will comply with special instructions which accompany the request for deposition on notice or commission.) Requesting counsel must make arrangements with the witness to insure his or her appearance for the deposition (travel fees, witness fees, etc.) The U.S. Embassy/Consulate may be able to provide information concerning interpreters, translators and audio/video operators. Private counsel must make their own arrangements to retain the services of interpreters, translators and audio/video operators. Note: not all foreign countries have court reporters, interpreters and translators. American embassies and consulates do not have staff personnel available to perform such functions. It may be necessary to bring your own experts in these fields from the United States. Consult the U.S. embassy or consulate or the embassy or consulate of the foreign country regarding foreign Customs restrictions concerning bringing video and other equipment into a the foreign country. Consult our general information flyer "Obtaining Evidence Abroad" for detailed information about arranging consular depositions, telephone depositions, depositions on written questions, videotaping depositions, etc. See Ristau, Sec. 5-3-2, pp. 234-236 (1995 Supp.) for a discussion of consular depositions.
U.S. FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPANTS: . U.S. federal, state and local government officials interested in obtaining evidence abroad should contact the Office of American Citizens Services (ACS) at (202) 647-5226. ACS+ assists these officials in making the necessary arrangements for testimony of foreign officials, host country clearance and can assist them in retaining the services of stenographers, interpreters and video operators, where available. A copy of the host country clearance questionnaire will be faxed to you. It will also be available via our Internet Home Page and Autofax Service.
PRE-TRIAL DISCOVERY OF DOCUMENTS : Most countries party to the Convention, with the exception of the Czech Republic, Israel, the Slovak Republic and the United States, made specific declarations objecting to the Article 23 provision on pre-trial discovery of documents. See Ristau, Sec. 5-2-5, p. 205-223 (1995 Supp.); Born & Westin, 313, 315.
COMPULSION OF EVIDENCE: Testimony and documentary or physical evidence may be compelled using the "Model Letter of Request" provided in the Hague Evidence Convention. The court in the U.S. transmits the request with appropriate translations directly to the foreign central authority. See Moore's Federal Practice, 3d, Section 28.12[8].
MODEL REQUEST FORM: Article 3 provides mandatory provisions concerning the content of the letter of request. See Ristau, Sec. 5-2-1(1), p. 173-175 (1995 Supp.). See Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Selected International Conventions; Ristau, Appendix C, DS-64 through DS-65 (1995 Supp.) for the model letter of request form to compel evidence. For a sample application to a U.S. court for issuance of a letter of request under the Convention, see Ristau, Sec. 5-2-1(3) p. 177-178 (1995 Supp.). For a sample completed letter of request using the recommended form see Ristau, Sec. 5-2-1(4), p. 179-184 (1995 Supp.) The request should include any specific procedures desired by the requesting court, such as verbatim transcripts or participation in the proceedings before the foreign court by American counsel or local counsel representing the American firm. See also Born & Westin, 317; Moore's Federal Practice, 3d, Sec. 28.12[4] and 28.12[9].
NUMBER OF COPIES: The Evidence Convention, unlike the Service Convention, does not require that a letter of request be submitted in duplicate. In practice, however, countries prefer that the request be prepared in duplicate (one English text bearing the seal of the court, one photocopy of the English text; two copies of a translation of the request an any accompanying documents.) If testimony is desired of two or more witnesses, separate letters of request should be issued for each witness. See Ristau, Sec. 5-2-1, p. 185, (1995 Supp.).
TRANSLATIONS : Articles 4 and 33 of the Convention concern translations. The Convention requires a letter of request in the language of the receiving state, but English or French is acceptable unless the receiving state has expressly stated to the contrary. See Moore's Federal Practice, Sec. 28.12[3], p. 28-15. See also S&S Screw Mach. Co. v. Cosa Corp., 647 F. Supp. 600, 613 n.23 (M.D. Tenn. 1986). Consult the declarations and reservations made by each country. See the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Selected International Conventions, Law Digest Volume or the Practical Handbook on the Operation of the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad. See also, Ristau, Sec. 5-2-1(8), p. 185-187 (1995 Supp.), or Epstein, International Litigation, a Guide to Jurisdiction, Practice and Strategy, Section 10.10; Moore's Federal Practice, 3d, Sec. 28.12[3] (1997). Translations should be a notarized certification by the translator. See Ristau, Sec. 5-2-1, p. 187 (1995 Supp.).
TRANSMITTING REQUEST: The requesting court in the United States transmits the model letter of request and accompanying documents and appropriate translations, in duplicate, directly to the central authority. See Ristau, Sec. 5-1-5(2), p. 168-171, (1995 Supp); Moore's Federal Practice, 3d, Sec. 28.12[2] (1997).
EXECUTION OF THE REQUEST: Article 9 provides that letters of request will be executed in accordance with local foreign law. See Ristau, Sec. 5-2-2, p. 188-200 (1995 Supp.); Born & Westin 317-318, and Moore's Federal Practice, 3d, Sec. 28.12[7] for a discussion on how requests are executed in civil and common law countries.
TIME: Article 9 provides that requests be executed "expeditiously." Requests under the Hague Evidence Convention are executed somewhat faster than letters rogatory. This is due in part to the direct channel from the U.S. court to the foreign central authority. However, the general estimate of 6 months to a year to execute the request is still used. See Ristau, Sec. 5-2-2(3), p. 192 (1995, Supp.); Born & Westin, 312 and Moore's Federal Practice, 3d, Sec. 28.12[7].
COSTS: Articles 14, 26 and 28(f) govern costs and fees for execution of letters of request. Generally speaking, there is no fee. However, if the executing country incurs expense for fees paid to "experts and interpreters" reimbursement can be sought in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 14. For a discussion of fees, see Ristau, Sec. 5-2-4, p. 201-204 (1995 Supp.).
RETURN OF EXECUTED REQUEST: Article 13(1) provides that the executed request shall be returned to the issuing authority (requesting court) by the foreign central authority. See Ristau, Sec. 5-1-5(4), p. 171, (1995 Supp.).
FOREIGN CENTRAL AUTHORITIES
COUNTRY AND CENTRAL AUTHORITY
ANGUILLA
Governor of Anguilla
ARGENTINA
Ministry of Foreign Relations and Culture (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto)
Recoquista 1088, Buenos Aires, Argentina
ARUBA
Convention Extended by the Netherlands. Central Authority Unknown. Consult Local Counsel.
AUSTRALIA
Secretary of the Attorney General's Department
Commonwealth of Australia
Canberra, ACT, Australia
BARBADOS
Registrar of the Supreme Court of Barbados
Law Courts
Bridgetown, Barbados
tel: 809-427-5537
BULGARIA
Central Authority: Ministry of Justice and European Legal Integration
CAYMAN ISLANDS
His Excellency the Governor
Cayman Islands
CHINA
Bureau of International Judicial Assistance
Ministry of Justice of the People's Republic of China
10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyang District
Beijing 100020
China
CYPRUS
Ministry of Justice
CZECH REPUBLIC
Ministerstvo SpravedInosti Ceske republicky
The Ministry of Justice of the Czech Republic
128 Praha 2, Vysehradska 16
Prague, Czech Republic
DENMARK
Justitsministeriet
Ministry of Justice
Slotsholmsgade 10
1216 Kobenhavn K.
Copenhagen, Denmark
tel: 120906; telex: 15530
ESTONIA
Ministry of Justice
Suur Karja #19
Tallinn, Estonia EE0001
tel: (6) 28-2648
FALKLAND ISLANDS
The Governor
Stanley, Falkland Islands
FINLAND
Ministry of Justice
10 Etelaesplanadi
Helsinki 13, Finland
tel: 358-0-1601
FRANCE
Ministere de la Justice
Ministry of Justice
Service Civil de L''Entraide Judiciaire Internationale
13, Place Vendome
75042 Paris Cedex 01, France
tel: 261-80-22; telex: 211802
GERMANY
For Baden-Wurttemberg
Justizministerium Baden-Wurttemberg
Justice Ministry
Schillerplatz 4
70173 Stuttgart, Germany
tel: 21931
For Bavaria
Das Bayerisches Staasministerium der Justiz
Justizpalast
Prielmayerstrasse 7
80335 Munchen
Munich, Germany
tel: 55971
For Berlin
Senatsverwaltung fur Justiz von Berlin
Salzburger Strasse 21-25
10825 Berlin, Germany
tel: 7831
For Brandenburg
Das Ministerium der Justiz
des Landes Brandenburg
Heinrich-Mann-Allee 107
14460 Potsdam, Germany
For Bremen
Der Prasident des Landgerichts Bremen
Domsheide 16
28195 Bremen, Germany
tel: 3614204
For Hamburg
Der Prasident des Amtsgerichtes Hamburg
Sievekingplatz 1
20335 Hamburg, Germany
tel: 34971
For Hesse
Der Hessische Minister der Justiz
Luisenstrasse 13
65185 Wiesbaden, Germany
tel: 321<<P> For Lower Saxony
Der Niedersachsisher Minister der Justiz
Am Waterlooplatz 1
30169 Hannover, Germany
tel: 1901
For Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Der Minister fur Justiz
Bundes- und Europaangelegenheiten
des Landes Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Demmlerplatz 14
19053 Schwerin, Germany
For Northrhine-Westphalia
Prasident des Oberlandesgerichts
Dusseldorf
Cecilienallee 3
40474 Dusseldorf, Germany
tel: 87921
For Rhineland-Palatinate
Das Ministerium der Justiz
Ernst-Ludwig-Strasse 3
55116 Mainz, Germany
tel: 161
For Saarland
Ministerium der Justiz des Saarlandes
Zahringerstrasse 12
66119 Saarbrucken, Germany
tel: 5051
For Saxony
Das Sachsische Stattsministerium
der Justiz
Archivstrasse 1
66119 Dresden, Germany
For Saxony-Anhalt
Das Ministerium der Justiz
des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt
Wilhelm-Hopfner-Ring 6
39116 Magdeburg, Germany
For Schleswig-Holstein
Der Justizminister des Landes Schleswig-Holstein
Lorentzendamm 35
34103 Kiel, Germany
tel: 51371
For Thuringia
Das Justizministerium Thuringen
Alfred-Hess-Strasse 8
99094 Erfurt, Germany
Gibraltar
The Deputy Governor
Gibraltar
Guernsey
Bailiff, Deputy Bailiff, any Jurat of the Royal Court
of Guernsey, the Chairman or a Jurat of the Court
of Alderney and the Seneschal (or deputy) of the
Court of the Seneschal of Sark
Guernsey, United Kingdom
Hong Kong SAR
Chief Secretary of Hong Kong
Central Government Offices
Lower Albert Road
Hong Kong; tel: (011) (852) 8102954
Isle of Man
1. See United Kingdom.
2. Her Majesty's First Deemster and Clerk of the
Rolls is designated as an additional authority to receive letters of request for execution in the Isle of Man
Israel
Director of the Courts
19 Jaffa Road
Jerusalem
Italy
Ministerio degliAffari Esteri
Rome, Italy
Jersey
Royal Court of Jersey
Latvia
Ministry of Justice
Brivibas Boulevard 34
LV - 1536 Riga, Latvia
Luxembourg
Parquet General Pres La Cour Superieure de Justice
12 Cote d''Eich
Luxembourg-Ville, Luxembourg
tel: 475981 or 26767 or 41464
Macau SAR
On December 16, 1999, the Government of the People's Republic of China declared: "In accordance with the Joint Declaration
of the Governemnt of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on the Question of Macau
signed on 13 April 1987, the Government of the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macau
with effect from 20 December 1999. Central Authority: Procurator of the Procuratorate of Macau SAR, Alameda Dr. Carlos D''Assumpcao, NAPE, Edificio Comercial Tai Fung, 13, Regiao
Administrativa Especial de Macau; tel: 853-797-8271, fax: 853-727-621. The official languages in Macau SAR are Chinese and
Portugese. Foreign judical assistance requests pursuant to the Convention written in English will be accepted and processed,
though the preference is for a copy to be submitted in one of the two official languages - Chinese or Portugese.
Mexico
Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores
Dirreccion General de Asuntos Juridicos
Ricardo Flores Magon No. 1
Mexico City, Mexico
tel: 782-34-40
telex: 01762090
Monaco
Directorate of Judicial Services
MC 98025
Monaco Cedex, Monaco
Netherlands
De Officier van Justitie bij de Arrondissementsrechtbank te 's
Gravenhage
The Public Prosecutor With the District Court of the Hague
Juliana van Stolberglaan 2-4
The Hague, the Netherlands tel: 82-40-41
Norway
The Royal Ministry of Justice and Police
Toks 8005
Oslo Dep
Oslo 1, Norway
Poland
Ministry of Justice
Department of International Cooperation and European Law
Al. Ujazdowskie 11
Warsaw, Poland 00-950
tel: (48)(22) 628-4431
fax: (48)(22) 628-0949
Portugal
Direccao-Geral dos Servicas Judiciarios
Ministerio da Justica
The Director-General of the Judiciary Deparment
Ministry of Justice
Prace do Comercio
1194 Lisboa Codex
Lisbon, Portugal
tel: 360786
Singapore
The Registrar of the Supreme Court
St. Andrews Road
Singapore 0617, Singapore
tel: 65-3324021; fax: 65-3379450
Slovak Republic
Ministerstvo spravodlivosti Slovenskej republicky
The Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Republic
Zupne namestie 13,
813 11 Brtislava, Slovak Republic
Fax: 00427-531035
Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri & Dhekelia
Senior Registrar of the Judge's Court of the Sovereign Base Areas
Spain
The Ministry of Justice (El Ministerio Justicia)
La Direccion General de Codificacion y Cooperacion Juridica Internacional
Ministerio de Justicia e Interior
Technical Secretariat General (Secretaria General Tecnica)
Calle San Bernardo 62
28071 Madrid, Spain
Sweden
Ministry of Justice
Division for Criminal and International Judicial Cooperation
Central Authority
SE-103 33 Stockholm, Sweden
tel: (46)(8) 405-5048
fax: (46)(8) 405-4676
Switzerland
Federal Justice and Police Department
Federal Office for Police Matters
International Judicial and Extrajudicial Assistance
Bundesrain 20
3003 Bern, Switzerland
Fax: 011-41-31-322-5380
The Swiss Federal Justice and Police Department will forward the requests to the Central Authority in the appropriate canton. Requests for evidence may also be sent directly to the Central Authority for the appropriate Canton, as noted below.
Canton: Appenzell Ausserhoden (G)
Kantonsgerich Appenzell A. Rh., 9043 Trogen, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-71-94-24-61
Canton: Aargau (G)
Obergericht des Kantons Aargau, 5000 Aargau, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-64-21-19-40
Canton: Basel-Landschaft (G)
Obergericht des Kantons Basel-Landschaft, 4410 Liestal, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-61-925-51-11
Canton: Basel-Stadt (G)
Apellationsgericht Basel-Stadt, 4054 Basel, Switerzland
tel: 011-41-61-267-81-81
Canton: Bern (G/F)
Justizdirektion des Kantons Bern, 3011 Bern, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-31-633-76-76
Canton: Fribourg (F/G)
Tribunal cantonal, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-37-25-39-10
Canton: Geneve (F)
Parquet du Procureur general, 1211 Geneve 3, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-22-319-21-11
Canton: Glarus (G)
Obergericht des Kantons Glarus, 8750 Glarus, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-58-61-15-32
Canton: Graubuenden (G)
Justiz-, Polizei- und Sanitaets- departement, Graubunden, 7001 Chur, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-81-21-21-21
Canton: Jura (F)
Department de la Justice, 2800 Delemont, Jura, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-66-21-51-11
Canton: Luzern (G)
Obergericht des Kantons Luzern, 6002 Luzern, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-41-24-51-11
Canton: Neuchatel (F)
Departement de Justice, 2001 Neuchatel, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-38-22-31-11
Canton: Nidwalden (G)
Kantonsgericht Nidwalden, 6370 Stans, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-41-63-79-50
Canton: Obwalden (G)
Kantonsgericht des Kantons, Obwalden, 6060 Sarnen, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-41-66-92-22
Canton: St. Gallen (G)
Kantonsgericht St. Gallen, 9001 St. Gallen, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-71-21-31-11
Canton: Schaffhausen (G)
Obergericht des Kantons, Schaffhausen, 8201 Schaffhausen, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-53-82-74-22
Canton: Schwyz (G)
Kantonsgericht Schwyz, 6430 Schwyz; Switzerland
tel: 011-41-43-24-11-24
Canton: Solothurn (G)
Obergericht des Kantons Solothurn, 4500 Solothurn, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-65-21-73-11
Canton: Tessin (I)
Tribunale di appello, 6901 Lugano, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-91-21-51-11
Canton: Thurgau (G)
Obergericht des Kantons Thurgau, 8500 Frauenfeld, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-54-22-31-21
Canton: Uri (G)
Gerichtskanzlei Uri, 6460 Altdorf, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-44-4-22-44
Canton: Valais (F/G)
Tribunal cantonal, 1950 Sion, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-27-22-93-93
Canton: Vaud (F)
Tribunal cantonal, 1014 Lausanne, Switzerland
tel: 011-41- 21-313-15-11
Canton: Zug (G)
Obergericht des Kantons Zug, Rechtshilfe, 6300 Zug, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-42-25-33-11
Canton: Zurich (G)
Obergericht des Kantons Zurich, Rechtshilfe, 8023 Zurich, Switzerland
tel: 011-41-1-257-91-91
United Kingdom
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AL, United Kingdom
For England and Wales
The Senior Master of the Supreme Court of Judicature (Queen's Bench Division)
Royal Courts of Justice Strand
London WC2A 2LL, United Kingdom
For Scotland
The Crown Agent for Scotland
Lord Advocate's Department
Crown Office
5/7 Regent Road
Edinburgh EH7 5BL, Scotland
For Northern Ireland
Registrar of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland
-or-
Master (Queens's Bench and Appeals)
Royal Courts of Justice
Belfast 1, Northern Ireland
Venezuela
el Miniterio Relaciones Exteriores the Ministry of External Relations
SEE ALSO :
- "Checklist for the Discussions of the Special Commission of April 1989 on the Operation of the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad", Hague Conference on Private International Law, Preliminary Document No. 1 of March 1989, 28 I.L.M. 1556 (1989).
- "Report of the Second Meeting of the Special Commission on the Operation of the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters, July 1985", 24 I.L.M. 1668 (1985).
- Practical Handbook on the Operation of the Hague Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil Or Commercial Matters, Hague Conference on Private International Law, Maarten Kluwer's Internationale Uitgeversonderneming, Antwerp, 1984. U.S. Distributor: Butterworth Publishers Inc., 10 Tower Office Park, Woburn, Boston, Massachusetts 01801. Contact the U.S. Central Authority for addresses of other distributors.
- "Report on the Work of the Special Commission on the Operation of the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters Prepared by the United States Delegation", 17 I.L.M. 1417 (1978).
- "Report on the Work of the Special Commission on the Operation of the Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters June 12-15, 1978 Prepared by the Permanent Bureau", 17 I.L.M. 1425 (1978).
- "Message from the President of the United States Transmitting the Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters", S. Exec. Doc. No. A 92d Cong., 2d Sess. (1972), 12 I.L.M. 323 (1973).
- "Letter of Submittal from Secretary of State William P. Rogers to the President Regarding the Evidence Convention", S. Exec. Doc. No. A, 1, 92d Cong., 2d Sess. (1972), 12 I.L.M. 324 (1973).
-"Report of the U.S. Delegation on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil and Commercial Matters", 8 I.L.M. 785, 804 (1969).
BUT SEE :
Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale, et al., v. United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 1987 U.S. LEXIS 2615; 96 Law. Ed. 2d 461; 107 Sup. Ct. 2542; 55 U.S. Law Week 4842; 7 Federal Rules of Service 3d 1105; 482 U.S. (page unassigned) (1987), 26 I.L.M. 1021 (1987).
Supreme Court Proceedings in Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale, et al., v. United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (Hague Evidence Convention; Extraterritorial Discovery in the U.S. Courts.) 25 I.L.M. 1475 (1986).
In re Anschuetz and Company, 838 F. 2d 1362, 7 March 1988.
Anschuetz & Co. v. Mississippi River Bridge Authority, et al.; Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm v. Virginia Walker, et al., Brief for United States as Amicus Curiae and Petitioner's Response. 25 I.L.M. 803 (1986).
Club Mediterranee v. Dorin, 469 U.S. 1019 (1984), 23 I.L.M. 1332 (1984). Brief for United States as Amicus Curiae. (Appeal Dismissed.)
Volkswagenwerk v. Falzon, 464 U.S. 811 (1983), 23 I.L.M. 412 (1984). Brief for United States as Amicus Curiae. (Appeal Dismissed).
Hudson v. Hermann Pfauter GmbH & Co., 117 F.R.D. 33, 9 September 1987.
In re Benton Graphics v. Uddeholm Corp., 118 F.R.D. 386, D.N.J. 30 November 1987.
Sandsend Financial Consultants v. Wood, 743 SW2d 364, Tex. Civ. App., 1st Dist. Houston, 7 January 1988.
Scarminach v. Goldwell GmbH, 531 N.Y.S. 2d 188, Sup., Monroe County, 22 June 1988.
Cf. Rich v. KIS California, Inc., 121 F.R.D. 254, M.D.N.C., 22 June 1988.
John Jenco v. Martech International, Inc., 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4727, E.D. La., 20 May 1988, reversing 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3991.
"Hague Evidence Convention in the U.S. Courts", Laker Airways Ltd. v. Pan American World Airways, et al., U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia;
Graco v. Kremlin, Inc., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Eastern Division), 23 I.L.M. 748-781 (1984).
Laker Airways, Ltd. v. Sabena, Belgian World Airlines, 731 F. 2d 909, 937 (D.C. Cir. 1984).
In re Westinghouse Litigation, 563 F. 2d 992 (10th Cir. 1977).
In re Marc Rich & Co., A.G., 707 F. 2d 663, 667 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, 463 U.S. 1215 (1983). Marc Rich & Co., A.G. v. United States, 736 F. 2d 864 (2d Cir. 1984).
In re Grand Jury Proceedings: The Bank of Nova Scotia, 740 F. 2d 817 (11th Cir. 1984), cert. denied, U.S. , 105 S. Ct. 788 (1985).
SEE ALSO :
Alley, E.R., New Developments under the Hague Evidence and Service Conventions: 1989 Special Commission, International Business Lawyer, 380 (1989).
Amram, Explanatory Report on the Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters, Message from the President of the United States", Sen. Exec. A., 92nd Cong., 2d Sess. (Feb. 1, 1972).
Amram, The Proposed Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad, 55 A.B.A. J. 651 (1969).
Amram, Report on the Eleventh Session of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, 63 Am. J. Int''l Law 521 (1969).
Amram, United States Ratification of the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad, 67 Am. J. Int''l Law 104 (1973).
Augustine, Obtaining International Judicial Assistance Under the Federal Rules and the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil and Commercial Matters: An Exposition of the Procedures and a Practical Example: In re Westinghouse Uranium Contract Litigation, 10 Ga. J. Int''l & Comp. L. 101 (1980).
Bailey, Stephen R., "Depositions and Discovery - Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters", 54 Journal of Air Law and Commerce, 381 (1988).
Bermann, The Hague Evidence Convention in the Supreme Court: A critique of the Aerospatiale Decision, 63 Tul. L. Rev. 525 (1989).
Bishop, Significant Issues in the Construction of The Hague Evidence Convention, 1 Int''l Litigation Q. 2, 38 (1985).
Black, United States Transnational Discovery: The Rise and Fall of the Hague Evidence Convention, 40 Int''l and Comparative L.Q. 901-906 (1991).
Born, The Hague Evidence Convention Revisited: Reflections on Its Role in U.S. Civil Procedure, 57 Law & Contemp. Probs. 77, 90-96 (1994).
Boyd, Contemporary Practice of the United States Relating to International Law - The Hague Evidence Convention, 72 Am. J. Int''l Law 133 (1978).
Comment, The Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters: The Exclusive and Mandatory Procedures for Discovery Abroad, 132 U. Pa. L. Rev. 1461 (1984)
Edwards, Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters, 18 Int''l. and Comp. L. Q. 646 (1969)
Gerber, International Discovery after Aerospatiale: the Quest for an Analytical Framework, 82 Am, J. Int''l L. 521, 555 (1988).
Griffin & Bravin, Beyond Aerospatiale: A Commentary on Foreign Discovery Provisions, 25 Int''l Law. No. 2, 315 (1991).
Guzman, Rick, Interplay between the Discovery Provisions of the Hague Evidence Convention and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale, 9 Hous. J. Int''l. L., 333 (1987).
Hayne, Hague Convention and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 9 Hous. J. Int''l L. 333 (1987).
Heck, U.S. Misinterpretation of the Hague Evidence Convention, 24 Colum. J. Transnat''l. L. 231 (1986).
McLean, The Hague Evidence Convention: Its Impact on American Civil Procedure, 9 Loy. L.A. Int''l & Comp. J.J. 17, 62 (1986).
McLean & McLachlan, The Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad. Explanatory Documentation prepared for Commonwealth Jurisdictions, Commonwealth Secretariat, (September 1985).
Maier, Extraterritorial Discovery: Cooperation, Coercion, and the Hague Evidence Convention, 19 Vand. J. Transnat''l L. 239, 252-255 (1986).
Martens, D.H., German Civil Procedure and the Implementation of the Hague Evidence Convention,1 International Litigation Quarterly, No. 2, 115 (September 1985).
Matthews, The Role of the Hague Convention for Gathering Evidence Abroad: Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale v. United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Stanford J. Int''l. L. 309 (1987).
Minch, U.S. Obligations Under the Hague Evidence Convention, 22 Int''l Law. 511, 528 (1988).
Nadelmann, The United States Joins the Hague Conference on Private International Law: A "History" with Comments, 30 Law & Contemp. Probs 291 (1965).
Noonan, Lori A., Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale v. United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa: The Supreme Court of the United States Adopts a Case-by-Case Standard in Applying the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad, 1 The Transnational Lawyer, No. 1, 367, (1988).
Note, Gathering Evidence Abroad: The Hague Evidence Convention Revisited, 16 L. & Pol''y in Int''l. Bus. 963 (1984).
Note, Hague Evidence Convention: A Practical Guide to the Convention, United States Case Law, Convention-Sponsored Review Commission (1978 & 1985), and Responses of Other Signatory Nations: With Digest of Cases and Bibliography, 16 Ga. J. Int''l & Comp. L. 73, 99, App. A (1986).
Note, The Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters: The Exclusive and Mandatory Procedures for Discovery Abroad, 132 U. Pa. L. Rev. 1461-1485 (1984).
Note, The Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters: The Exclusive and Mandatory Procedures for Discovery Abroad, 132 U. Pa. L. Rev. 1461-1485 (1984).
Note, Obtaining International Judicial Assistance Under the Federal Rules and the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad: An Exposition of the Procedures and a Practical Example -- In Re Westinghouse Uranium Contract Litigation, 10 Ga. J. Int''l & Comp. L. (1980).
Note, The Securities Acts and International Discovery: The Hague Evidence Convention After Anschuetz and Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm, 12 Syracuse J. Int''l L. and Com. 600 (1986).
Note, United States Ratification of the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad, 67 Am J. Int''l L. 104.
Notes & Comments, United States Ratification of the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad, 67 Am. J. Int''l Law 104, 105 (1973).
Oxman, The Choice Between Direct Discovery and Other Means of Obtaining Evidence Abroad: The Impact of the Hague Evidence Convention, 37 U. Miami L. Rev. 733 (1983).
Plaster, The Hague Evidence Convention: The Need for Guidance on Procedures and Resolution of Conflicts in International Discovery, Vand. J. Trans. L., Vol. 27, No. 1, pp. 185-217 (1994).
Prescott & Alley, Effective Evidence-Taking Under the Hague Convention, 22 The Int''l Law. 939 (Winter 1988).
Radvan, The Hague Convention on Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters: Several Notes Concerning its Scope, Methods and Compulsion, 16 N.Y.U. J. Int''l L. & Pol. 1031 (1984).
Rogers, On the Exclusivity of the Hague Evidence Convention, 37 U. Miami L. Rev. 733 (1983).
Sadoff, The Hague Evidence Convention: Problems at Home of Obtaining Foreign Evidence, 20 Int''l Law. 659 (1986).
Shemanski, Obtaining Evidence in the Federal Republic of Germany: The Impact of the Hague Evidence Convention on German-American Judicial Co-operation, 17 Int''l Law. 465 (1983).
Weis, The Federal Rules and the Hague Conventions: Concerns of Conformity and Comity, 50 U. Pittsburgh L.R., 903 (1989).
Wotman, The Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters - A Comparison with Federal Rules Procedures, 7 Brooklyn J. of Intl. L. 365 (1981).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The Office of American Citizens Services has available general information flyers on international judicial assistance many of which are available via our Internet Consular Affairs home page. These topics include country-specific information about service of process and obtaining evidence abroad.
Using the Internet: Many of our judicial assistance flyers are also available on the Internet via the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page under Judicial Assistance . See also, the Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser for Private International Law home page for information regarding private international law unification. See also the home pages for many of our embassies . See also the Authentications Office home page .
TREATY DATABASES ON THE INTERNET:
United Nations (UN): Databases/Treaties
Council of Europe (COE) under Texts/Treaties
Organization of American States (OAS): under Documents/Treaties and Conventions.
QUESTIONS: Additional questions may be addressed to the appropriate geographic division of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of American Citizens Services at (202) 647-5225 or 202-647-5226. Questions regarding the operation of the Hague Evidence Convention may also be addressed to the U.S. Central Authority, the Office of International Judicial Assistance, Civil Division, Department of Justice, 1100 L St., N.W., Room 11006, Washington, D.C. 20530, tel: 202) 307-0983; fax: (202) 514-6584.
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