Honduras Judicial Assistance

Party to Hague Service Convention? No
Party to Hague Evidence Convention? No
Party to Hague Apostille Convention? Yes
Party to Inter-American Convention? No
Service of Process by Mail? N/A

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE IN A SPECIFIC CASE. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE APPROPRIATE FOREIGN AUTHORITIES OR FOREIGN COUNSEL.

Embassies and Consulates
U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa
Avenida La Paz
Tegucigalpa M.D.C.
Honduras
Telephone: 011-504-2236-9320 or 011-504-2238-5114
Emergency Telephone: 011-504-2236-8497 or (504) 2238-5114 or (504) 2236-9320, extension 4100.
Fax: 011-504-2238-4357

CONSULATES

U.S. Consular Agent - San Pedro Sula
Banco Atlántida Building
11th Floor, across the street from Central Park
San Pedro Sula
Honduras
Telephone: 2558-1580

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Emergency Telephone: Please contact the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa.
List of Attorneys
List of Attorneys - U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa
Helpful Links
None.
Service of Process

Honduras is not a party to the Hague Service Convention.  Although Honduras is a party to the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory, it is not a party to the Additional Protocol to the Inter-American Convention on Letters Rogatory regarding Service of Process.  The United States only has a treaty relationship with countries party to both the Convention and the Additional Protocol.  In the absence of any prohibition against it, service of process in Honduras may be effected by mail, by agent, such as a local attorney, or through letters rogatory.  Litigants may wish to consult an attorney in Honduras before pursuing a particular method of service of process, particularly if enforcement of a U.S. judgment is contemplated in the future. 

Service on a Foreign State: See also our Service Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) feature and FSIA Checklist for questions about service on a foreign state, agency or instrumentality.

Criminal Matters

Prosecution Requests: U.S. federal or state prosecutors should also contact the Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division, Department of Justice for guidance. 

Defense Requests in Criminal Matters: Criminal defendants or their defense counsel seeking judicial assistance in obtaining evidence or in effecting service of documents abroad in connection with criminal matters may do so via the letters rogatory process. 

Requests for compulsion of evidence may be prepared in the form of a letter rogatory transmitted via diplomatic channels.  See 22 CFR 22.1 regarding current consular fees.  For general guidance about preparation and transmittal of such requests, see our Preparation of Letters Rogatory feature.  Letters rogatory for compulsion of evidence should be transmitted in duplicate with appropriate Spanish translation to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Overseas Citizens Services, Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management, Western Hemisphere Division, CA/OCS/ACS/WHA.   Mailing address: SA-29, 4th Floor, 2201 C Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520. 

Obtaining Evidence in Civil and Commercial Matters
None.
Taking Voluntary Depositions of Willing Witnesses
Honduras is not a party to the Hague Evidence Convention.  Honduran authorities have advised the U.S. Embassy that voluntary depositions of U.S. citizen willing witnesses in civil and commercial matters may be taken before U.S. consular officers in Honduras.  Voluntary depositions of non-U.S. citizens can only be taken pursuant to a letters rogatory requesting judicial assistance from Honduran courts.  Oral depositions or depositions on written questions of U.S. citizens may be taken by U.S. consular officers or by private attorneys from the United States or Honduras at the U.S. Embassy or at another location such as a hotel or office, either on notice or pursuant to a commission.  If the services of a U.S. consular officer are required to administer an oath to the U.S. citizen witness, interpreter and stenographer, such arrangements must be made in advance with the U.S. embassy directly.
Authentication of Documents
Honduras is not a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Legalization of Foreign Public Documents.  Documents issued in the United States may be authenticated for use in Honduras by (a) contacting the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office and (b) then having the seal of the U.S. Department of State authenticated by the Embassy of Honduras in Washington, D.C. Documents issued in U.S. states must first be authenticated by the designated state authority, generally the state Secretary of State.