[Title 32 CFR B]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - July 1, 2002 Edition]
[Title 32 - NATIONAL DEFENSE]
[Chapter V - DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY]
[Subchapter A - AID OF CIVIL AUTHORITIES AND PUBLIC RELATIONS]
[Part 516 - LITIGATION]
[Subpart B - Service of Process]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


32NATIONAL DEFENSE32002-07-012002-07-01falseService of ProcessBSubpart BNATIONAL DEFENSEDEPARTMENT OF THE ARMYAID OF CIVIL AUTHORITIES AND PUBLIC RELATIONSLITIGATION
                      Subpart B--Service of Process



Sec. 516.8  General.

    (a) Defined. Process is a legal document that compels a defendant in 
an action to appear in court or to comply with the court's demands, for 
example, in a civil case a summons or subpoena, or in a criminal case, a 
warrant for arrest, indictment, contempt order, subpoena, or summons. 
Service of process is the delivery of the document to a defendant to 
notify him of a claim or charge against him.
    (b) Policy. DA personnel will follow the guidance of this chapter 
when civil officials attempt to serve civil or criminal process on 
individuals on Federal property.
    (c) Procedures. Provost marshals shall ensure that installation law 
enforcement personnel are adequately trained to respond to situations 
which arise with regard to service of civil and criminal process. SJAs 
or legal advisers shall provide guidance to law enforcement personnel in 
these matters.



Sec. 516.9  Service of criminal process within the United States.

    (a) Surrender of personnel. Guidance for surrender of military 
personnel to civilian law enforcement officials is in Chapter 7 of AR 
630-10 and AR l90-9. Army officials will cooperate with civilian law 
enforcement authorities who seek the surrender of a soldier in 
connection with criminal charges. Special rules apply when a bail 
bondsman or other surety seeks custody of a soldier.
    (b) Requests for witnesses or evidence in criminal proceedings. See 
subpart G to this part.

[59 FR 38236, July 27, 1994; 59 FR 45975, Sept. 6, 1994]



Sec. 516.10  Service of civil process within the United States.

    (a) Policy. DA officials will not prevent or evade the service or 
process in legal actions brought against the United States or against 
themselves in their official capacities. If acceptance of service of 
process would interfere with the performance of military duties, Army 
officials may designate a representative to accept service. DA personnel 
sued in their individual capacity should seek legal counsel concerning 
voluntary acceptance of process.
    (b) Request for witnesses or evidence in civil proceedings. See 
subpart G to this part.
    (c) Process of Federal courts. Subject to reasonable restrictions 
imposed by the commander, civil officials will be permitted to serve 
Federal process. (See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4, 45).
    (d) Process of state courts.
    (1) In areas of exclusive Federal jurisdiction that are not subject 
to the right to serve state process, the commander or supervisor will 
determine whether the individual to be served wishes to accept service 
voluntarily. A JA or other DA attorney will inform the individual of the 
legal effect of voluntary acceptance. If the individual does not desire 
to accept service, the party requesting service will be notified that 
the nature of the exclusive Federal jurisdiction precludes service by 
state authorities on the military installation.
    (2) On Federal property where the right to serve process is reserved 
by or granted to the state, in areas of concurrent jurisdiction, or 
where the United States has only a proprietary interest, Army officials 
asked to facilitate service of process will initially proceed as 
provided in the preceding subparagraph. If the individual declines to 
accept service, the requesting party will be allowed to serve the 
process in accordance with applicable state law, subject to reasonable 
restrictions imposed by the commander.
    (e) Process of foreign courts. A U.S. District Court may order 
service upon a person who resides in the judicial district of any 
document issued in connection with a proceeding in a foreign or 
international tribunal. (28 U.S.C. 1696). In addition, the U.S. State 
Department has the power to receive a letter rogatory issued by a 
foreign or international tribunal, to transmit it to a tribunal, officer 
or agency in the United States, and to return it after execution. (28 
U.S.C. 1781). Absent a

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treaty or agreement to the contrary, these provisions will govern.
    (f) Seizure of personal property. State and Federal courts issue 
orders (for example, writ of attachment) authorizing a levy (seizure) of 
property to secure satisfaction of a judgment. DA personnel will comply 
with valid state or Federal court orders commanding or authorizing the 
seizure of private property to the same extent that state or Federal 
process is served.

[59 FR 38236, July 27, 1994; 59 FR 45975, Sept. 6, 1994]



Sec. 516.11  Service of criminal process outside the United States.

    Army Regulation 630-10 and international treaties, such as status of 
forces agreements, govern the service of criminal process of foreign 
courts and the surrender of soldiers to foreign civilian law enforcement 
officials.



Sec. 516.12  Service of civil process outside the United States.

    (a) Process of foreign courts. In foreign countries service of 
process issued by foreign courts will be made under the law of the place 
of service, as modified by status of forces agreements, treaties or 
other agreements. In foreign areas under exclusive U.S. jurisdiction, 
service of process issued by foreign courts will be made under the law 
specified by appropriate U.S. authority.
    (b) Process of Federal courts. Service of process on U.S. citizens 
or residents may be accomplished under the following provisions: The 
Hague Convention, reprinted in 28 USCA Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 
following Rule 4; Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i); 28 USC 1781 and 1783; and, the 
rules of the Federal court concerned. If a DA official receives a 
request to serve Federal process on a person overseas, he will determine 
if the individual wishes to accept service voluntarily. Individuals will 
be permitted to seek counsel. If the person will not accept service 
voluntarily, the party requesting service will be notified and advised 
to follow procedures prescribed by the law of the foreign country 
concerned.
    (c) Process of state courts. If a DA official receives a request to 
serve state court process on a person overseas, he will determine if the 
individual wishes to accept service voluntarily. Individuals will be 
permitted to seek counsel. If the person will not accept service 
voluntarily, the party requesting service will be notified and advised 
to follow procedures prescribed by the law of the foreign country 
concerned. (See, for example, The Hague Convention, reprinted in 28 USCA 
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, following Rule 4).
    (d) Suits against the United States. DA personnel served with 
foreign civil process will notify the appropriate SJA or legal adviser, 
who will return the document to the issuing authority explaining the 
lack of authority to accept service for the United States. Service on 
the United States must be made upon DOJ through established diplomatic 
channels.



Sec. 516.13  Assistance in serving process overseas.

    (a) Europe. For information and assistance concerning service of 
process of persons assigned to or accompanying U.S. Forces in Europe, 
contact the Foreign Law Branch, International Law Division, Office of 
The Judge Advocate, Headquarters U.S. Army, Europe, and Seventh Army, 
Unit 29351, (Heidelberg, Germany) APO AE 09014.
    (b) Korea. For information and assistance concerning service of 
process of persons assigned to or accompanying U.S. Forces in Korea, 
contact Staff Judge Advocate, US Forces Korea (Seoul, Republic of 
Korea), APO AP 96205.
    (c) Panama, Central and South America. For information and 
assistance concerning service of process of persons assigned to or 
accompanying forces in the U.S. Army Southern Command, contact Staff 
Judge Advocate, HQ, US Army South, Fort Clayton, Panama, APO AA 34004-
5000.



Sec. 516.14  Service of process on DA or Secretary of Army.

    The Chief, Litigation Division, shall accept service of process for 
Department of the Army or for the Secretary of the Army in his official 
capacity.

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