Service of Process in Israel, Done Right Under the Hague Convention
Israel has been a party to the Hague Service Convention since 1972. Requests go to Israel's Central Authority, the Administration of Courts in Jerusalem, which issues an Article 6 certificate once service is complete. deLAWvery serves documents personally anywhere in Israel, documents every attempt, and delivers an English affidavit of service.
Why serving process in Israel is different
Israel has been a party to the Hague Service Convention since 1972. It made specific declarations that change how foreign litigants can effect valid service. Getting these details wrong is one of the most common reasons for a challenged service or a vacated default judgment.
Israel's Central Authority
Israel's Central Authority under the Convention is the Administration of Courts (Directorate of Courts), Legal Assistance to Foreign Countries, in Jerusalem. Formal Article 5 requests go to this office on the Model Request Form. Once service is complete, it issues the Article 6 certificate your court will expect to see.
Israel's Article 10 declarations
10(b) and 10(c): service only through the Directorate of Courts, and only on requests from a judicial authority or a diplomatic/consular representation. US courts have treated this as an objection to direct private-agent service.
10(a) postal: in 2021 Israel objected only for documents addressed to the State and its agencies and officials. For private parties, mail is not formally objected to; check your forum's rules and later enforcement.
The route that gives you speed and certainty
The Convention lets the Central Authority serve "by a particular method requested by the applicant" (Article 5(1)(b)). Where the applicant requests a particular method, the Central Authority may approve personal service by a designated agent. deLAWvery supports this route in coordination with the Administration of Courts, and the Central Authority then issues the Hague certificate.
Bottom line: for a defendant in Israel, the safest path to a judgment you can enforce is service that ends with an Article 6 certificate from Israel's Central Authority.
Methods of serving documents in Israel: your options compared
| Method | How it works | Hague certificate? | Best for | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Article 5(1)(b): personal service by a designated agent (deLAWvery) | The applicant requests a particular method; the Central Authority may approve personal service by a designated agent. deLAWvery supports this route in coordination with the Administration of Courts, serves personally and documents every attempt. The Central Authority issues the certificate. | ✅ Yes | Most civil and commercial cases where you want speed, visibility and a certificate | Requires a properly completed request and translation |
| Article 5(1)(a): standard Central Authority service | Central Authority serves through Magistrate's Court clerks or registered post | ✅ Yes | Low-urgency matters | Officially 1–4 months, with limited visibility into attempts |
| Article 10(a): postal service | Documents mailed directly to the defendant | ❌ No | Only where your forum expressly allows it, for private defendants | Not available against the State. Proof-of-receipt and enforcement risk |
| Article 8: diplomatic/consular service | Your country's consulate serves | Varies | Rare, voluntary acceptance | Generally non-coercive. Limited availability |
| Personal service under Israeli rules (non-Hague use) | A process server delivers in person under Israeli civil procedure practice | ❌ No (affidavit instead) | Israeli proceedings, extrajudicial notices, demand letters, contractual notices, or where your forum's rules allow | Not a substitute where the Hague Convention is mandatory for your case |
| Letters rogatory | Court-to-court request through diplomatic channels | Via return of the foreign court | Courts in non-Hague states, or special matters | Slowest route |
Not sure which route your court requires? Tell us the forum and the type of document. We'll explain how each route works in practice in Israel, so you and your counsel can choose with confidence.
How Hague service in Israel works with deLAWvery
- Send us your documents. Upload the summons, complaint and exhibits through our platform or by email. Tell us the court, the case number and who needs to be served.
- Document and translation check. We review the package against Israeli requirements, including the Model Request Form, duplicate sets and the Hebrew (or Arabic) translation. We flag gaps before anything is filed, so your request isn't returned.
- Locate the defendant (if needed). If you only have an old address, a name or an ID number, our Israeli skip-tracing service confirms a current, serviceable address.
- Coordination with the Administration of Courts. We coordinate the request with Israel's Central Authority in Jerusalem, which may approve personal service by a designated agent where the applicant requests a particular method under Article 5(1)(b). deLAWvery supports this route in coordination with the Administration of Courts.
- Personal service by a vetted local server. A process server from our nationwide network attempts service. Every attempt is logged with time, GPS location, photos and server notes.
- Real-time tracking. You follow each step in English on your dashboard, with email updates. No chasing, no time-zone phone tag.
- Proof of service. You receive a detailed English affidavit of service. The Administration of Courts issues the Article 6 Hague certificate.
- Delivered to you, ready to file. Digital copies are sent straight away. Originals are couriered on request. Need an Apostille? We handle that too.
What you get with every service in Israel
English affidavit of service. A detailed, sworn account of service, written for foreign courts.
Fully documented attempts. Every attempt is recorded with time, date, GPS location, photos and server notes, so you have evidence if service is ever challenged.
Real-time tracking. A live status for every job on one dashboard, plus email notifications.
Official Hague certificate. Issued by the Israeli Administration of Courts (the Central Authority) under Article 6 of the Convention.
One accountable partner. Locating, translation coordination, service, Apostille and courier on a single platform.
Native integration with Odcanit for Israeli law firms coordinating service for foreign clients.
Can't find the defendant? Skip tracing in Israel
An outdated or incomplete address is the number one cause of failed international service. Our skip-tracing service verifies addresses, traces people from a name or ID number and confirms phone details, within the limits of Israeli privacy law, so the request isn't returned "addressee unknown" months later.
Do documents need a Hebrew translation?
In most cases, yes: documents should be in or translated into Hebrew, unless the recipient is presumed to understand English or Arabic. For Palestinian Authority areas, documents go through the Director of Courts and need Arabic and Hebrew. Our recommendation: include a certified Hebrew translation from the start; we can coordinate it.
Nationwide coverage, from the Galilee to Eilat
A nationwide network of vetted, experienced process servers and 34 legal-printing service points: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Be'er Sheva, Rishon LeZion, Petah Tikva, Netanya, Ashdod, Herzliya, Ra'anana, Eilat and everywhere in between, including kibbutzim. deLAWvery is a licensed postal operator under Israel's Postal Law.
Built for foreign attorneys and process-serving companies
US attorneys. Federal and state litigation, with service that fits FRCP 4(f)(1) and your state's rules.
Canadian lawyers. Provincial court matters requiring service in Israel.
UK solicitors and barristers. Service out of the jurisdiction under CPR Part 6.
EU and international law firms. Civil and commercial matters from any Contracting State.
Process-serving and international service companies. A dependable local partner on the ground in Israel, with English reporting and documented attempts.
Corporate legal departments. One partner for every Israeli counterparty.
Typical documents: summons and complaint, claim forms, petitions, subpoenas (civil), family-law papers, judgments, notices, and extrajudicial documents.
Beyond the Hague route: notices, letters rogatory and Apostille
Personal service for non-Hague purposes. Contractual notices, demand letters, Israeli court proceedings, or any matter where your forum allows delivery outside the Convention. Served by our process servers with a full affidavit.
Letters rogatory. For matters outside the Hague framework, we can support the Israeli leg of a court-to-court request.
Apostille. Israel is a party to the Apostille Convention. We arrange Apostilles on Israeli notarized and court documents, including affidavits of service, so they're accepted abroad.
Court filings in Israel. Filing and document pickup at every Israeli court and tribunal.
Why legal teams trust deLAWvery
- 1,000+ law firms and legal departments use deLAWvery
- Licensed postal operator (Israel Ministry of Communications)
- 34 legal-printing service points nationwide
- Nationwide network of vetted, experienced process servers
- Native integration with Odcanit
- Every attempt documented: time, location, photos and server notes
Frequently asked questions about service of process in Israel
Is Israel a party to the Hague Service Convention?
Yes. Israel ratified the Hague Service Convention in 1972. Service of judicial documents from other Contracting States into Israel in civil and commercial matters is governed by the Convention.
Who is Israel's Central Authority?
The Administration of Courts (Directorate of Courts), Legal Assistance to Foreign Countries, in Jerusalem. It receives Article 5 requests and issues the Article 6 certificate of service.
Can a private process server serve documents in Israel?
Not on their own under Article 10(b) or 10(c). Israel declared that service under those paragraphs goes only through the Directorate of Courts. However, where the applicant requests a particular method under Article 5(1)(b), the Central Authority may approve personal service by a designated agent. deLAWvery supports this route in coordination with the Administration of Courts. The Central Authority then issues the Hague certificate.
Can I serve a defendant in Israel by mail?
Israel has objected to service by mail (Article 10(a)) only for documents addressed to the State of Israel and its agencies and officials. For private parties, mail service is not formally objected to. Your own court's rules still need to allow it, and it can be harder to prove and to enforce. Many attorneys prefer personal service with a Hague certificate.
Do my documents need to be translated into Hebrew?
Generally, yes. Documents should be in or translated into Hebrew, unless the recipient is presumed to understand English or Arabic. Translating up front avoids refusals and delays.
How long does service in Israel take?
It depends on the route, the completeness of your request and the defendant's location. The standard Central Authority route has been reported at 1–4 months. With deLAWvery, you see every attempt in real time, so you always know where your service stands.
What proof of service will I receive?
A detailed English affidavit of service, a full record of each attempt (time, location, photos, server notes) and, for Hague service, the Article 6 certificate issued by the Israeli Administration of Courts.
What if I don't have a current address for the defendant?
Use our Israeli skip-tracing service to locate individuals and businesses and confirm a serviceable address before the request goes out.
Can you serve an Israeli company?
Yes. We serve companies at their registered office or place of business anywhere in Israel, and we document who accepted service and in what capacity.
Can the affidavit of service be apostilled?
Yes. Israel is a party to the Apostille Convention, and deLAWvery can arrange an Apostille so your proof of service is ready for use abroad.
Related services
Need to serve someone in Israel? Let's get it done.
Send us your documents and case details, and our English-speaking team will get your service moving.
- Email: team@delawvery.com · Phone / WhatsApp: +972 3-381-7700
- 2 Noah Mozes St, 7th floor, Rishon LeZion, Israel · Sunday–Thursday, 09:00–17:00 (Israel time)
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. deLAWvery is not a law firm. Requirements for valid service depend on the rules of the court where your case is pending. Please consult qualified counsel about your specific matter.