The Rules of Serving Court Documents
The service of court documents is the part of the process that directly determines a party's procedural standing: proper service starts the running of terms and enables the examination of the case. The Code of Civil Procedure regulates this field in detail — from service on a representative to public notice. Each form of service carries its own conditions and consequences, and for the party what is decisive is which of them applies: this is not a technical detail but the foundation of the progress of the case. Knowledge of the service rules is therefore a practical advantage — timely reaction is possible only when the party knows when a document counts as served.
Service on a Representative and a Numerous Party
Where one of the co-participants has entrusted the conduct of the case to a representative, the document is served on that person, who is obliged to notify the other co-participants; service on the representative means service on all co-participants. Where the party of claimants, appellants, cassators or defendants numbers more than 10 persons, the court sends the document to the first three signatories of the claim, complaint or submission — and service on one of them is deemed service on all participants of that party.
Absence of the Addressee and Refusal
Where the serving officer does not find the person at the address indicated by the party, the document is delivered to an adult member of the family living with the addressee, or at the workplace — to the administration; the recipient is obliged to hand the document to the addressee immediately, and such service is deemed service on the addressee. Where the addressee refuses to accept the document, the delivering person makes an appropriate note and the document is returned to the court — in that case the document is deemed served and the court may examine the case; the only exception is a family member's refusal of a first-time document.