International Process Service in Sweden

Sweden is a party to the Hague Service Convention and allows international service of process via both formal methods, such as the Hague Convention, and informal methods, such as mail.

International process service requires selecting the method most appropriate for your case, knowledge of local rules and laws, and translation requirements. Given the extensive timelines for international process service and the limited updates provided by other countries, careful attention to detail is necessary to ensure all documents are complete to avoid delays or returned requests.

Service Under the Hague Convention

The Hague Service Convention allows for more efficient service of documents across international borders. Sweden has been a party to the Service Convention since 1969.

When serving documents in Sweden under the Hague Convention, a “letter of request” is sent to Sweden’s Central Authority. The Central Authority will review the documents and, if everything is in order, send them out for service via a judicial officer. 

The Swedish Central Authority requires that any requests be completed in duplicate and submitted with two sets of documents to be served along with the appropriate translations. 

In Sweden, pursuing service through the Hague Convention is the best way to ensure that any judgments obtained are enforceable, making it the preferred method of service in most cases.

Informal Process Service in Sweden

Sweden allows informal service of process through service via an agent. However, while timelines may be shorter through this method, if a judgment is the ultimate goal, it will be necessary to go through a formal method such as the Hague Service Convention. 

Under Article 10(b) of the Hague Service Convention, while Sweden does allow contact to “judicial officers or other competent persons” for service, it does clarify who those individuals would be. Additionally, it’s important to note that there is no obligation for any authority or individual in Sweden to assist in effectuating service. 

Service Via Mail

There is also no objection to service by mail under Article 10(a); however, this also severely limits the extent to which future judgments can be upheld. 

Parties must understand the forum court’s local rules for service via mail. If service is not executed in accordance with these rules, it may not be successful. For anyone pursuing this route, it is critical to work with a partner who understands the nuance of international process service.

Translation of Documents

When serving documents through the Hague Service Convention in Sweden, all documents must be translated into Swedish. The Swedish Central Authority will reject any form completed in English only.  

In informal methods of process service, Swedish document translation may not be a strict requirement but is highly recommended in order to execute the service successfully. 

Serving Legal Documents in Sweden

If you need to serve documents in Sweden, our experienced team of international process servers is here to help. With years of experience effectuating service in over 100 countries, we can ensure your documents are served efficiently and in accordance with Swedish law. 

The staff of DGR Legal are not lawyers, nor is our organization a law firm. The information provided on this website does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. Rather, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.