Preaching

We know the word preaching from both religious and legal contexts. Regardless of the context, the term means the same thing: making a message or message known to a recipient.

In this section, we focus exclusively on the legal use of the word and the contexts in which it is used.

The word service can often be used synonymously with words such as announce, proclaim, declare or inform. However, the legally correct term is forkynde or forkyndelse - a term also used by the Danish courts when a person or company needs to be informed of a summons, for example.

Preaching can be done in many different ways

Many people mistakenly believe that service of process is only done by a court officer physically appearing at a person or business. However, this is not correct. Physical appearance can be one method of service, but there are also other ways to serve a notice, such as a subpoena.

It is ultimately up to each court and jurisdiction to decide how service should take place, including how a person or business should be summoned or receive other notices from the courts.

The choice of method of service often depends on the resources available to the court in question.

The most common methods of preaching are:

Digital mail via public digital mail solutions.
Letter sent by post.
Phone as part of phone publishing.
Official Gazettewhere notifications are published.

Another method is the use of a bailiff who physically appears at the recipient's home. If the courts do not know where the recipient is located, in some cases the police can assist in delivering the notice.

What happens if you can't find a person?

Sometimes a person cannot be found - typically if the person has left the country or has not registered a registered address.

In such cases, the courts will often request police assistance if the police are deemed to have more resources or methods to locate the person and thus serve the notice.

If the police can't find the person either, service can be made through the Official Gazette. In the Official Gazette, the person is encouraged to contact the local court. The notice will typically include the person's full name and previously known address.

This method is legally known as service by publication in the Official Gazette.

How is service regulated?

Service is regulated by law in Executive Order on service of process. The order describes the different methods by which service can be performed, including: