In spite of recent financial turmoil (or perhaps due to austerity and government reform measures) the Greek Central Authority is relatively methodical and thorough. Service is typically effected rather quickly by international standards. Its processing of requests has become steadily faster in recent years.

Of note, while specific requests for personal service are usually honored by the Central Authority, such a request is generally unnecessary. In most situations, the Central Authority relays requests to local prosecutors, who then instruct a local bailiff to effect service. Very often, bailiffs will work in pairs, so as to ensure that service is witnessed by another judicial officer. This practice makes evasion quite difficult for defendants.

Many Greeks speak English, to at least some extent. However, litigants cannot rely on this to justify not providing a translation. Greece’s accession to the Hague Convention requires that the summons and complaint be accompanied by a certified and legalized Greek translation.

In all cases, however, documents must reasonably be understood by the defendant in order to fulfill US Due Process requirements. In particular, documents served upon a recipient who speaks neither English nor Greek may even need to be translated into an additional language. US practitioners should explore this issue at length with our legal staff.

The Hague Convention specifically negates the need for legalization of the source documents to be served on a defendant. That is, the original court documents (summons, complaint, etc.) may be conveyed in a request without an Apostille or other verification by state or provincial authorities.

The Convention is silent, however, as to specifics requirements for certification of translations. Greece requires that the translation which accompanies the source documents must itself carry an Apostille.

Greece objects to all forms of alternative service under Article 10. As such, service may only be effected via the Central Authority channel outlined in Article 5.

LLS can assist you with service and can help you understand and meet the translation requirements for service of process in Greece. Please call 1-800-755-5775 for more information.