ΊΪΑΟΚΣΖ΅

Affidavit Of Non Service Template for England and Wales

Generate a bespoke document

What is a Affidavit Of Non Service?

An affidavit of non-service is a sworn statement confirming that a person did not receive service of a specified legal document. In England and Wales it is used to challenge default judgments, dispute deemed service under the Civil Procedure Rules 1998, and apply for extensions of time where a party had no notice of proceedings. The document is sworn before a solicitor or commissioner for oaths and forms part of the evidentiary record. Any deliberate false statement is a criminal offence under the Perjury Act 1911.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an affidavit of non-service used for in England and Wales?

It is a sworn statement confirming that a person did not receive service of a legal document, such as a claim form, injunction, or court order. Courts in England and Wales use it to assess whether a default judgment should be set aside or whether time limits should be extended for a party who had no notice of proceedings.

How does this affidavit challenge the Civil Procedure Rules deemed service provisions?

CPR Part 6 deems certain documents served on specified dates regardless of actual receipt. An affidavit of non-service provides sworn evidence that actual receipt did not occur, inviting the court to exercise its discretion to extend time or set aside a judgment entered in reliance on deemed service.

Can a company swear an affidavit of non-service?

Yes. An authorised officer swears the affidavit in their personal capacity on behalf of the company. They must have direct knowledge of how mail and legal correspondence is handled at the registered address. Courts scrutinise non-service claims for companies closely, particularly where service was made to the registered office.

What steps should I take before swearing this affidavit?

Check all mail delivery records, speak to colleagues who handle post, review email inboxes for electronic service, and check whether the document was sent to the correct address. A thorough investigation strengthens the affidavit. Swearing non-service without checking properly weakens your credibility before the court.

Who witnesses the oath for this affidavit in England and Wales?

A solicitor, commissioner for oaths, or court officer must administer the oath and witness the signature. The document is not legally valid without proper witnessing. Most solicitors offer this service quickly, and courts sometimes have in-house commissioners available at the court office.

Will a court always accept an affidavit of non-service?

No. Courts balance the affidavit against the claimant's evidence of service. Where service was made by first-class post to a correct address, the court may maintain the deemed service presumption despite the affidavit. Additional corroborating evidence, such as evidence of a change of address, strengthens the application.

Is this affidavit different in family proceedings?

The substantive principle is the same but procedurally it is governed by the Family Procedure Rules 2010 rather than the Civil Procedure Rules. Family court applications to set aside orders on non-service grounds follow FPR Part 18 and require a supporting affidavit or witness statement of non-service.

How does GenieAI's template help with this affidavit?

GenieAI's template covers the document allegedly served, the method and address of service, the search conducted, and the sworn declaration of non-service required under England and Wales procedural rules. A solicitor or commissioner for oaths must still witness the signature before the document is filed with a court.

Reviewed by

Legal Engineer, GenieAI

A lawyer, legal researcher and legal tech founder, Swetha has built AI products deployed inside Tier 1 firms and enterprises. She ensures GenieAI's alignment with the latest regulation and executes testing on the legal robustness of Genie output.

Reviewed by

Legal Engineer, GenieAI

A Skadden-trained M&A lawyer, Imad advised on cross-border transactions and contractual risk before moving into legal AI. He reviews GenieAI's output for compliance and enforceability across our 150+ supported jurisdictions, as well as facilitating external benchmarking.

Jurisdiction

England and Wales

Reviewed by

&

Publisher

GenieAI

Category

Affidavit

Sector

Business

Cost

Free to use

Last updated

About the Affidavit Of Non Service

An Affidavit Of Non Service is a sworn legal document you need when attempts to serve legal papers fail. This affidavit creates an official record of unsuccessful service attempts, protecting you legally while demonstrating to the court that you made reasonable efforts to serve the defendant or intended recipient. The document must detail every attempt made, including specific dates, times, locations, and reasons why service could not be completed.

When do you need this document?

You need an Affidavit Of Non Service whenever a process server or authorized individual cannot successfully deliver legal papers to the intended recipient. This commonly occurs in divorce proceedings when a spouse cannot be located, in debt collection cases where defendants avoid service, or in eviction proceedings where tenants have vacated without forwarding addresses. The affidavit is also required when recipients refuse to accept service, when addresses prove incorrect or outdated, or when multiple attempts at personal service fail due to the recipient's unavailability. Courts require this documentation before approving alternative service methods like publication or substituted service.

Key legal considerations

Your affidavit must include specific details to satisfy legal requirements and avoid challenges. Document every service attempt with precise dates, times, and locations, describing who was present and what occurred during each attempt. Include the reason for each failure, whether due to incorrect addresses, recipient unavailability, refusal to accept service, or other circumstances. The affidavit must identify the process server's qualifications and authorization to serve legal documents. Remember that this is a sworn statement made under penalty of perjury, so accuracy is crucial. Include proper verification language stating that the contents are true and correct to your knowledge. The document requires notarization with an official notary seal and signature to be legally valid.

Legal requirements in United States

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 4 governs service requirements in federal courts, establishing standards for proper service attempts and documentation of failures. You must comply with both federal rules and your specific state's civil procedure requirements, which may impose additional documentation or attempt requirements. Most states require process servers to be licensed or authorized, and some mandate specific qualifications or training. The number of required service attempts varies by jurisdiction, typically ranging from two to four attempts made at different times and days. State laws may specify particular methods for documenting failed attempts, required waiting periods between attempts, and acceptable reasons for non-service. Some jurisdictions require attempts at both home and work addresses when available. Notarization requirements vary by state, but most require acknowledgment by a licensed notary public with proper identification verification and record-keeping.

GOVERNING LAW

Applicable law

This Affidavit Of Non Service is drafted to comply with England and Wales law. Key legislation includes:

Genie's Security Promise

Genie is the safest place to draft. Here's how we prioritise your privacy and security.

Your data is private:

We do not train on your data; Genie's AI improves independently

All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation

Your documents are protected:

Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption

We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure

Organizational security:

You retain IP ownership of your documents and their information

You have full control over your data and who gets to see it