Book II: Trial Courts

For the application of the provisions of Article 555-1, the notification made to a detained person by the head of the prison, which is equivalent to service, may be carried out by any official placed under his authority and having been designated by him for this purpose.

In accordance with the provisions of Article 557, where the bailiff has given the copy of the writ to a person residing at the home of the person concerned, he shall send the latter:

The procedures for implementing service at a bailiff’s office provided for by Article 558 are specified by this article. The bailiff may, at the request of the addressee, forward the copy of the writ to another office where the addressee may collect it under the same conditions. Mention of this option is made in the registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, the simple letter or the notice of delivery provided…

The provisions of the second paragraph of Article 559-1 allowing the public prosecutor to extend the time limit for service of a decision to up to three months shall also apply to service issued at the request of the public prosecutor or the civil party. The public prosecutor and the civil party may specify this three-month period in their initial application. They may also extend the period by up to…

In the case provided for in Article 559-1, the bailiff who ascertains that he has been unable to complete his steps on expiry of the period of forty-five days or within that provided for in the request of the public prosecutor or the civil party must inform the latter as soon as possible, and at the latest within five working days of expiry of that period. In the absence of…

Service remains valid even if it was effected after the expiry of the forty-five day period provided for in Article 559-1 or the three-month period set by the public prosecutor or the civil party.

The summons drawn up pursuant to article 390 specifies that the person may request the assistance of a lawyer immediately or at any time during the proceedings. It also specifies the conditions under which they can benefit from legal aid and the addresses of the structures where they can receive legal advice.

Service may be effected by electronic means in accordance with the provisions of Article 803-1 in the cases and in accordance with the procedures set out in Article D. 593-1-1.