The Civil Procedure Rules 1998

Mode of service

Rule 2—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a judgment summons shall be served personally on every debtor against whom it is issued.

(2) Where the judgment creditor or his solicitor gives a certificate for postal service in respect of a debtor residing or carrying on business within the district of the court, the judgment summons shall, unless the district judge otherwise directs, be served on that debtor by an officer of the court sending it to him by first-class post at the address stated in the request for the judgment summons and, unless the contrary is shown, the date of service shall be deemed to be the seventh day after the date on which the judgment summons was sent to the debtor.

(3) Where a judgment summons has been served on a debtor in accordance with paragraph (2), no order of commitment shall be made against him unless—

(a) he appears at the hearing; or

(b) the judge is satisfied that the summons came to his knowledge in sufficient time for him to appear at the hearing.

(4) Where a judgment summons is served personally, there may, if the judgment creditor so desires, be paid to the debtor at the time of service a sum reasonably sufficient to cover his expenses in travelling to and from the court.