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DISPUTES & COURTS · CHINESE LEGAL GLOSSARY REVIEWED SEP 2026
送达

Service of process

Formal delivery of court documents to a party in accordance with procedural rules.

CHINESE送达
PINYINsongda
PREFERRED ENGLISHService of process
AREADisputes & courts
WHAT 送达 MEANS

What 送达 means

Service affects whether a party has legally received summonses, judgments and other procedural documents. Chinese civil procedure recognizes multiple methods, and cross-border service can raise treaty and diplomatic-channel issues.

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Why the role matters

Foreign companies should keep registered addresses and contact details current and should not assume that ignoring documents prevents proceedings from moving forward.

CONTEXT

Where you see the term

ContextWhat it means there
Court summonsStarts response and hearing preparation.
JudgmentService can affect appeal or compliance periods.
Cross-border disputesService route may depend on treaty and location.
TRANSLATION NOTE
文/A

Translation note

送达 is “service” or “service of process” in litigation. It is not ordinary commercial “delivery”.

AUTHORITY

Primary legal basis

PRIMARY AUTHORITY

PRC Civil Procedure Law, service provisions

The law regulates formal service methods and procedural effect.

The law regulates formal service methods and procedural effect.

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ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE

Example

A foreign shareholder changes office but does not update the PRC company’s registered contact information. Court documents sent through the legally permitted route may still create procedural consequences.

SOURCES AND REVIEW

Primary authorities.

Last source check
18 Sep 2026
MAINTAINED BYChina Legal Portal Editorial
LAST REVIEWED
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