FINDING COMPETENT COURTS
The search tool below will help you to identify court(s)/authority(ies) competent for a specific European legal instrument. Please note that although every effort has been made to ascertain the accuracy of the results, there may be some exceptional cases concerning the determination of competence that are not necessarily covered.
Article 2(1) – Transmitting agencies
The transmitting agency for the service of writs and summonses abroad is the court before which the case is pending.
The transmitting agency for the service of extrajudicial documents abroad is the district court (rayonen sad) with jurisdiction over the current or permanent address, or registered office, of the person or entity requesting service; and for documents certified by a notary, it is the district court (rayonen sad) with jurisdiction over the district in which the notary practises.
Article 2(2) – Receiving agencies
The receiving agency in the case of the Republic of Bulgaria is the district court (rayonen sad) in whose jurisdiction the documents are to be served.
Click on the below link to view all competent authorities related to this Article.
List of competent authorities
Article 2(4)(c) – Means of receipt of documents
The district courts accept the delivery by post of requests for service and the attached documents to be served.
Article 2(4)(d) – Languages that may be used for the completion of the standard form set out in Annex I
The district courts accept standard forms completed in Bulgarian, English or French.
Article 3 – Central body
The central authority is the Ministry of Justice
International Legal Cooperation and European Affairs Directorate
Tel.: +359 2 9237 413
+359 2 9237 544
+359 2 9237 576
Fax: +3592 9809223
e-mail: civil@justice.government.bg
1, Ulitsa Slavyanska
PO Box 1040, Sofia
Article 4 – Transmission of documents
The standard application form for transmission of documents can be completed in Bulgarian, English or French.
Articles 8(3) and 9(2) – Particular periods set by national law for serving documents
Bulgarian legislation does not specify a time limit for the service of documents.
Article 10 – Certificate of service and copy of the document served
The Republic of Bulgaria allows the certificate of service and a copy of the document served to be drawn up in Bulgarian, English or French.
Article 11 – Costs of service
Bulgarian legislation does not stipulate a fee for the service of documents in the normal way. A fee fixed in accordance with the Schedule of Fees and Costs under the Private Bailiffs Act is charged for the service of documents by a particular method.
Article 13 – Service by diplomatic or consular agents
In accordance with Article 13(2), the Republic of Bulgaria states that it permits the service of documents under Article 13(1) to be carried out in its territory only if the addressee is a national of the Member State in which the document originates (Article 608 of the Code of Civil Procedure).
Article 15 – Direct service
Direct service under Article 15 is not permitted under Bulgarian legislation (Article 613 of the Code of Civil Procedure).
Article 19 – Defendant not entering an appearance
The Republic of Bulgaria hereby states that it will not make use of the possibility provided for under Article 19(2).
An application under Article 19(4) may be filed within one year of judgment being handed down by the court.
Article 20 – Agreements or arrangements to which Member States are parties and which comply with the conditions in Article 20(2)
The Republic of Bulgaria does not maintain and has not concluded any agreements, compatible with the Regulation, to additionally expedite or simplify the transmission of documents.
