Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Jurisdiction definition

What does Jurisdiction mean? Jurisdiction, in legal practice, describes a court’s power to hear and determine a dispute and the limits of that power, both by subject matter and by the territory over which the court’s authority extends. It encompasses personal jurisdiction over the parties (often based on service, presence, domicile or consent, including exclusive jurisdiction clauses) and the court’s territorial and subject‑matter competence. The term is descriptive rather than fixed by a single definition; its scope is set by statute, rules of court, international instruments and case law (for example, the Senior Courts Act 1981, the Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments...

Cross-border service of proceedings from England and Wales: CPR 6 options, Hague Service Convention, foreign law compliance, consular channels, and service on States under the State Immunity Act 1978

Published by a LexisNexis Dispute Resolution expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note outlines the ways to effect service of a claim form or other documents beyond the jurisdiction. For England and Wales, it identifies the applicable CPR provisions and the key points that must be assessed. There are several possible routes for serving out of the jurisdiction. This Practice Note gives an overview of those options and flags matters to consider when deciding which route to adopt. It does not address issues of jurisdiction or whether the court’s permission is needed before serving documents abroad. Those questions must be resolved in advance, with reference to the following Practice Notes: Cross-border service—a guide for dispute resolution practitioners and Cross-border service—is permission required to serve a defendant who is outside England and Wales?

Practical considerations

Cross-border service is intricate and may involve delays. It is vital to be fully acquainted with the relevant CPR rules and the local law in the country where the document is to be served, and to ensure adherence to both...

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Camilla Macpherson

Independent contributor

From 2019 to 2024, Camilla Macpherson was Head of Secretariat of P.R.I.M.E. Finance, a foundation based in The Hague which seeks to foster greater financial market stability and increased confidence in global finance. Camilla previously practised international arbitration and litigation at Allen & Overy in London and Amsterdam, focusing on complex, high value cross-border disputes, many involving co-ordination of cross-jurisdictional proceedings and project management on a global scale. She was also previously DLA Piper’s Head of Knowledge Management, DLA Piper’s dedicated Brexit Counsel, and Legal Counsel at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. Camilla is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a member of the Law Society’s Arbitration Working Group, a former member of the Law Society’s International Committee and a practising solicitor in England & Wales with Solicitors’ Higher Rights of Audience....

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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