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Legal Resources > Legal Resources > International Judicial Assistance > Obtaining Evidence > Preparation of Letters Rogatory
The information relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is provided for general information only and may not be totally accurate in a particular case. Questions involving interpretation of specific foreign laws should be addressed to foreign ATTORNEYS. This circular seeks only to provide information; it is not an opinion on any aspect of U.S., foreign, or international law. The U.S. Department of State does not intend by the contents of this circular to take a position on any aspect of any pending litigation.
Letters rogatory are the customary means of obtaining judicial assistance from overseas in the absence of a treaty or other agreement. Letters rogatory are requests from courts in one country to the courts of another country requesting the performance of an act which, if done without the sanction of the foreign court, could constitute a violation of that country's sovereignty. Letters rogatory may be used to effect service of process or to obtain evidence if permitted by the laws of the foreign country.
Before initiating the letters rogatory process, parties should determine whether the country where they are seeking to serve process or take evidence is a party to any multilateral treaties on judicial assistance such as the Hague Service or Evidence Conventions, or the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory and Additional Protocol. Streamlined procedures for requesting judicial assistance under these conventions greatly reduce the time and burden associated with traditional letters rogatory. Parties should also review the Department of State’s country specific judicial assistance pages to determine whether other alternatives are available, such as serving process by mail or in person, or hiring a local attorney to petition a court directly to collect evidence.
Execution of letters rogatory may take a year or more. Letters rogatory are customarily transmitted via diplomatic channels, a time-consuming means of transmission. The time involved may be shortened by transmitting a copy of the request through a local attorney directly to the foreign court or other appropriate authority if permitted in the foreign country. Lists of foreign attorneys who have expressed a willingness to assist U.S. clients are available on the websites of U.S. embassies and consulates overseas.
Letters rogatory must be signed by a judge. The clerk should not sign on behalf of the judge. For most countries, the seal of the court and signature of the judge is sufficient. Consult our country-specific information for guidance about authentication procedures for particular countries. Many countries will not accept letters rogatory issued by an Administrative Law Judge. In administrative cases, it may be possible to obtain letters rogatory issued by a federal district court under 28 U.S.C. 1651.
The letters rogatory and any accompanying documents must be translated into the official language of the foreign country. The translator should execute an affidavit as to the validity of the translation before a notary.
Forward to the U.S. Department of State for transmittal to the foreign authorities:
The current consular fees for transmittal of letters rogatory are available at 22 CFR 22.1 Schedule of Fees. Requests must include a certified check payable to the U.S. Embassy (insert name of capital of the foreign country, for example, U.S. Embassy Tokyo). Corporate or personal checks are not acceptable. Foreign authorities may also charge a fee. The U.S. embassy and/or the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management in the Department of State will notify the requesting party if the Embassy is advised by foreign authorities of any applicable local fees. If the letters rogatory request compulsion of evidence from more than one witness or service of process on more than one person, multiple fees may be charged if more than one foreign court is required to execute the request due to multiple jurisdictions.
The letters rogatory and accompanying documents may be submitted to:
Washington, DC 20522-1710
Name: Judicial Assistance Officer
Address: U.S. Department of State
Office of Legal Affairs, (L/CA/POG/GC)
2201 C Street, NW
SA-17, 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20522-1710
The documents should be accompanied by a cover letter including the following elements:
Letters rogatory generally are transmitted to foreign judicial authorities through diplomatic channels, a formal system of communication between governments. This system is used to transmit letters rogatory to a foreign government so that they may be directed to the appropriate foreign court.
Foreign courts will generally execute letters rogatory in accordance with the laws and regulations of the foreign country. In compelling evidence, for example, many foreign courts do not permit foreign attorneys to participate in their court proceedings. Not all foreign countries utilize the services of court reporters or routinely provide verbatim transcripts. Sometimes the presiding judge will dictate his or her recollection of the witness' responses.
When letters rogatory are executed by foreign authorities, they are generally returned to the Department of State via diplomatic channels and the Office of American Citizens Services will send them to the requesting court in the United States via certified mail. The requesting party is also notified. At the request of the court, the executed letters rogatory and proof of service/evidence produced can be returned directly to the requesting attorney.
NAME OF COURT IN SENDING STATE REQUESTING JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE
NAME OF PLAINTIFF
V.
NAME OF DEFENDANT
DOCKET NUMBER
REQUEST FOR INTERNATIONAL JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE (LETTERS ROGATORY)
(NAME OF THE REQUESTING COURT) PRESENTS ITS COMPLIMENTS TO THE APPROPRIATE JUDICIAL AUTHORITY OF (NAME OF RECEIVING STATE), AND REQUESTS INTERNATIONAL JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE TO (OBTAIN EVIDENCE/EFFECT SERVICE OF PROCESS) TO BE USED IN A (CIVIL, CRIMINAL, ADMINISTRATIVE) PROCEEDING BEFORE THIS COURT IN THE ABOVE CAPTIONED MATTER. A (TRIAL/HEARING) ON THIS MATTER IS SCHEDULED AT PRESENT FOR (DATE) IN (CITY, STATE, COUNTRY).
THIS COURT REQUESTS THE ASSISTANCE DESCRIBED HEREIN AS NECESSARY IN THE INTERESTS OF JUSTICE. THE ASSISTANCE REQUESTED IS THAT THE APPROPRIATE JUDICIAL AUTHORITY OF (NAME OF RECEIVING STATE) (COMPEL THE APPEAR OF THE BELOW NAMED INDIVIDUALS TO GIVE EVIDENCE/PRODUCE DOCUMENTS) (EFFECT SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE BELOW NAMED INDIVIDUALS).
(NAMES OF WITNESSES/PERSONS TO BE SERVED)
(NATIONALITY OF WITNESSES/PERSONS TO BE SERVED)
(ADDRESSED OF WITNESSES/PERSONS TO BE SERVED)
(DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENTS OR OTHER EVIDENCE TO BE PRODUCED)
FACTS
(THE FACTS OF THE CASE PENDING BEFORE THE REQUESTING COURT SHOULD BE STATED BRIEFLY HERE, INCLUDING A LIST OF THOSE LAWS OF THE SENDING STATE WHICH GOVERN THE MATTER PENDING BEFORE THE COURT IN THE RECEIVING STATE.)
(QUESTIONS)
(IF THE REQUEST IS FOR EVIDENCE, THE QUESTIONS FOR THE WITNESSES SHOULD BE LISTED HERE).
(LIST ANY SPECIAL RIGHTS OF WITNESSES PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF THE REQUESTING STATE HERE).
(LIST ANY SPECIAL METHODS OR PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED).
(INCLUDE REQUEST FOR NOTIFICATION OF TIME AND PLACE FOR EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES/DOCUMENTS BEFORE THE COURT IN THE RECEIVING STATE HERE).
RECIPROCITY
THE REQUESTING COURT SHOULD INCLUDE A STATEMENT EXPRESSING A WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE SIMILAR ASSISTANCE TO JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES OF THE RECEIVING STATE.
REIMBURSEMENT FOR COSTS
THE REQUESTING COURT SHOULD INCLUDE A STATEMENT EXPRESSING A WILLINGNESS TO REIMBURSE THE JUDICIAL AUTHORITIES OF THE RECEIVING STATE FOR COSTS INCURRED IN EXECUTING THE REQUESTING COURT'S LETTERS ROGATORY.
SIGNATURE OF REQUESTING JUDGE
TYPED NAME OF REQUESTING JUDGE
NAME OF REQUESTING COURT
CITY, STATE, COUNTRY
DATE
(SEAL OF COURT)