How to serve documents in the Federal Court or Federal Circuit Court 

This fact sheet explains what ‘service’ is and how it works in court. 

March 2017

If you are commencing a case or the court has asked you to provide documents to someone, this fact sheet can help. It is important to understand the process for how to serve documents, as there are some strict rules that apply.

This fact sheet covers:

• What is service
• Who serves documents in a proceeding?
• When does service take effect?
• When is personal service required?
• How do you serve a document?
• Proving you have served someone
• Substituted service
• Consequences of improper service

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This resource was published March 2017. This is legal information only and does not constitute legal advice. You should always contact a lawyer for advice specific to your situation