JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE - SLOVAK REPUBLIC

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IN THIS CIRCULAR RELATING TO THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN COUNTRIES IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE IN A PARTICULAR CASE. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN COUNSEL.

PROVISO: This flyer seeks only to provide information; it is not an opinion on any aspect of U.S., foreign, or international law. The U.S. Department of State does not intend by the contents of this flyer to take a position on any aspect of any pending litigation.

APPLICABLE TREATIES OR OTHER AGREEMENTS

Note: On December 31, 1992, at midnight, Czechoslovakia ceased to exist and was succeeded by two separate and independent states, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. The status of bilateral agreements between the United States and Czechoslovakia is under review. In accordance with Article 34(1) of the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties, the U.S. view is that when a country which is a party to a multilateral treaty or convention has dissolved, the successor state(s) inherit the treaty obligations of the former government, consistent with Article 34 of the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties. However, as a practical matter, the custom is for depositaries to expect a notice of succession to confirm that the new entity is performing its treaty obligations.

The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 21 UST 77; 596 UNTS 261; TIAS 6820 (Article 5);

U.S. - Czechoslovakia Bilateral Consular Convention with agreed memorandum and related notes. Entered into force November 6, 1987; TIAS 11083;

Hague Convention on Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra-Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters, 20 UST 361;

Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil and Commercial Matters, 23 UST 2555;

U.S. - Czechoslovakia Extradition Treaty, signed July 2, 1925, 6 Bevans 1247; Supplementary Extradition Treaty, signed April 29, 1935, 6 Bevans 1283.

Note: On March 15, 1993, the Slovak Republic declared itself to be bound by the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil and Commercial Matters - including reservations and declarations made by Czechoslovakia as well as objections by Czechoslovakia in respect of reservations made by other Treaty Parties -- as of January 1, 1993, the date of the division of Czechoslovia.

VOLUNTARY DEPOSITIONS: The taking of depositions of willing witnesses in the Slovak Republic is governed by Article 5(f) and 5(j) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (to which the Slovak Republic and the United States are parties; the U.S.-Czechoslovakia Bilateral Consular Convention and, in civil and commercial matters, the Hague Evidence Convention; see also 22 U.S.C. 4215; 22 USC 4221; 18 U.S.C. App. Fed. R. Civ. P., Rules15 and 17; 28 U.S.C. Fed. R.Civ. P., Rules 28-31; 22 CFR 92.55 - 92.66 (general authority).

Voluntary depositions may be conducted in the Slovak Republic regardless of the nationality of the witness, provided no compulsion is used. The witnesses may refuse to take an oath or refrain from answering any or all questions. Oral depositions or depositions on written questions may be taken by U.S. consular officers or by private attorneys from the U.S. or the Slovak Republic at the U.S. Embassy or at another location such as a hotel or office, either on notice or pursuant to a commission (22 U.S.C. 4215; 4221; 18 U.S.C., Appendix, Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rules 15 and 17; 28 U.S.C., Appendix, Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules 28-31; 22 CFR 92.55 - 92.66 (general authority).

ARRANGING FOR CONSULAR ASSISTANCE: Consult our general flyer, Obtaining Evidence Abroad, for a checklist of information inquirers will need to provide to the U.S. embassy or consulate to arrange consular depositions. If the services of a U.S. consular officer are required to administer an oath to the witness, interpreter and stenographer, such arrangements must be made in advance with the U.S. embassy directly. Contact the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava to schedule a deposition of willing witnesses directly on U.S. consular premises, to arrange the participation of a consular officer to administer oaths off-site, or to obtain information about court reporters, stenographers or interpreters.

PARTICIPATION BY LOCAL, STATE OR U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS: Local, State or U.S. Government officials must have formal U.S. Embassy and Host Country clearance before traveling to a foreign country to conduct informal interviews related to judicial assistance matters or depositions. If participation of such officials is envisioned, they should contact the Europe and Canada Division of the Office of American Citizens Services which will transmit the request for host country clearance to the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava for transmittal to the Foreign Ministry of the Slovak Republic. Police clearance does not constitute formal host country clearance.

SLOVAK REPUBLIC CENTRAL AUTHORITY: The Slovak Central Authority for requests under the Hague Evidence Convention is the Ministerstvo spravodlivosti Slovenskej socialistickej republiky, The Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Socialist Republic, Zupne namestie 13, 813 11 Bratislava, Slovak Republic, fax: 00421-7-5316035. Under the Hague Evidence Convention, the requesting court in the United States transmits the model letter of request, and accompanying documents, in duplicate, directly to the foreign central authority.

TRANSLATIONS: All documents must be translated and submitted in duplicate.

TRANSMITTAL OF A REQUEST: The letter of request is sent directly from the American court to the Slovak Central Authority for the Convention.

CRIMINAL MATTERS: Compulsion of evidence in criminal matters is obtained in the Slovak Republic pursuant to a letter rogatory. A letter rogatory is a request from a court in the U.S. addressed "to the Appropriate Judicial Authority" of the foreign country. For details about the process consult our general information flyer, Preparation of Letters Rogatory.

Any letter rogatory intended for use in the Slovak Republic should include the following:

-- an offer of reciprocal assistance;

-- a statement expressing willingness to reimburse the Slovak judicial authorities for costs incurred in execution of the letter rogatory;

-- the seal of the court and signature of the judge;

The letter rogatory must be transmitted by the court in the U.S. from which it originates or by attorneys(s) to this office for transmittal to the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava. The Embassy will forward the request via diplomatic note to the Foreign Ministry of the Slovak Republic which will refer the matter to the Ministry of Justice which will assign it to a court in the Slovak Republic for execution. Requesting counsel should be aware that when letters rogatory are executed by foreign courts which compel the appearance of a witness to answer written interrogatories, the evidence is taken in acccordance with the rules of the foreign court. In most cases an American attorney will not be permitted to participate in such a proceeding. Occasionally a foreign attorney may be permitted to attend such a proceeding and even to put forth additional questions to the witness. Not all foreign countries utilize the services of court reporters or routinely provide verbatim transcripts. Sometimes the presiding judge will dictate his recollection of the witness's responses to his secretary. Generally letters rogatory worldwide, including those sent to the United States, take from six months to a year to execute.

TRANSLATIONS: Letters rogatory and any accompanying documents must be accompanied by a translation in duplicate.

AUTHENTICATION: The Slovak Republic does not require authentication of letters rogatory by the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in the United States.

U.S. CONSULAR FEES: Effective June 1, 2002, there is a $650.00 consular fee for processing letters rogatory (See Federal Register, May 16, 2002, Volume 67, Number 95, Rules and Regulations, Pages 34831-34838; 22 CFR 22.1, item 51). Counsel are requested to submit a certified bank check in the amount of $650.00 payable to the U.S. Embassy Bratislava). Corporate or personal checks are not acceptable. Foreign authorities may also charge a fee. Counsel will be notified by the U.S. embassy and/or the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management in the Department of State if the Embassy is advised by foreign authorities of any applicable local fees. There is no consular fee for letters rogatory on behalf of federal, state or local government officials. (See 22 CFR 22.1, item 53). If the letter rogatory requests compulsion of evidence from more than one witness or service of process on more than one person, multiple fees may be charged if more than one foreign court is required to execute the request due to multiple jurisdictions.

REQUESTS FROM STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS: If the service is on behalf of the federal, state or local government, there is no fee (22 CFR 22.1, item 58(a)/ (c).If the letter rogatory is being transmitted at the request of a state or federal official no U.S. consular fee will be charged. However, local authorities in the foreign country may impose fees of their own which must be paid by the state or federal authority in the United States requesting the judicial assistance. You will be contacted if a federal appropriation number and fund code or remittance a check for foreign fees owed by state or local governments in the U.S. are necessary.

Note: On March 15, 1993, the Slovak Republic declared itself to be bound by the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra-Judicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters including reservations and declarations made by Czechoslovakia in its accession September 23, 1981, as well as objections by Czechoslovakia in respect of reservations made by other Treaty Parties - as of January 1, 1993, the date of the division of Czechoslovakia.

The Hague Service Convention (20 U.S.T. 361, T.I.A.S. 6638; 28 U.S.C.A. (Appendix following Rule 4 FRCvP); 16 I.L.M. 1339 (1977)), provides for service by international registered mail, by agent and by formal request to the foreign central authority. (See Rule 4(f)(1) F.R.Cv. P.) For a detailed discussion of the operation of the Hague Service Convention, consult our flyer on the Convention. Service can be effected in the Slovak Republic under the Convention through the Slovak Central Authority. A request for service by the Central Authority can be made by an attorney by submitting the documents to be served under cover of form USM-94, in duplicate to the foreign central authority." The Convention form (USM-94) is available at the office of any United States Marshal and is reprinted in the Martindale Hubbell Law Directory, Law Digest Volume, Selected International Conventions, after the text of the Hague Service Convention.

SLOVAK CENTRAL AUTHORITY: the Ministerstvo spravodlivosti Slovenskej socialistickej republiky, The Ministry of Justice of the Slovak Socialist Republic, Zupne namestie 13, 813 11 Bratislava, Slovak Republic, fax: 00421-7-5316035.

TRANSLATIONS: The summons, complaint and any other documents to be served must be translated and submitted in duplicate. See the general flyer on the operation of the Hague Service Convention for details.

U.S. CENTRAL AUTHORITY: Office of International Judicial Assistance, Civil Division, Department of Justice, 1100 L St., N.W., Room 11006, Washington, D.C. 20530, tel: 202) 307-0983; fax: (202) 514-6584.

COSTS: There are generally no costs incurred in connection with service through the central authority under the Convention.

METHODS OF SERVICE: Article 5(b) - Personal Service: If personal service is required, strike out methods (a) and (c) on the Request for Service form (USM-94) and indicate method (b) on the form, noting that the documents should be served personally upon the person or company to be served.

COMPLETING THE USM-94 FORM: To obtain guidance on completing the USM-94 form, consult our general flyer on the Hague Service Convention.

TRANSMITTING THE COMPLETED REQUEST: The completed request form and documents to be served, (two copies of each), should be mailed by requesting counsel as the "applicant" directly to the foreign Central Authority as provided by Article 3 of the Convention. See our flyer, Hague Service Convention, for details regarding completion and transmittal of the forms and accompanying documents.

OTHER METHODS: The Slovak Republic made specific reservations objecting to service through postal channels.

LISTS OF FOREIGN ATTORNEYS: Lists of foreign attorneys willing to represent U.S. citizens have been prepared by the American Embassy in the Slovak Republic. Copies may be obtained from the Department of State, Office of American Citizen Services.

AUTHENTICATION OF DOCUMENTS: The Slovak Republic is not a party to the Hague Legalization Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents. Documents originating in the Slovak Republic intended for use in the United States must be authenticated before a U.S. consular officer in the Slovak Republic. Effective June 1, 2002, the consular fee for authentication is $30.00 per seal. See Federal Register, May 16, 2002, Volume 67, Number 95, Rules and Regulations, Page 34831-34838; 22 CFR 22.1; Item No. 41.

U.S. EMBASSY LOCATION: U.S. Embassy, Consular Section, American Citizens Services, (Int'l) Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava, tel: 011-421-7-533-3338; fax: 011-421-7-533-0096.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The Office of American Citizens Services has available general information flyers on international judicial assistance. These topics include:

USING THE INTERNET: Many of our judicial assistance flyers are also available on the Internet via the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page. See also, the Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser for Private International Law home page.

TREATY DATABASES ON THE INTERNET:

United States Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser, Treaty Affairs, List of Treaties and Other International Agreements of the United States In Force: http://www.state.gov/www/global/legal_affairs/tifindex.html

United Nations (UN): Databases/Treaties

Organization of American States (OAS): under Documents/Treaties and Conventions.

QUESTIONS: Should you have further questions about the procedures not addressed in this material, please contact the Office of American Citizens Services, Europe and Canada Division, Department of State, 2201 C Street, N.W., Room 4817, Washington, D.C. 20520, tel: 202-647-5226.

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