§ 186 — Service of documents

186.—(1) A document that is permitted or required by this Act to be served on a person may be served as described in this section.(2) A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on an individual may be served —(a)

by giving it to the individual personally;

(b)

by sending it by prepaid registered post to the address specified by the individual for the service of documents or, if no address is so specified, the individual’s residential address or business address;

(c)

by leaving it at the individual’s residential address with an adult apparently resident there, or at the individual’s business address with an adult apparently employed there;

(d)

by affixing a copy of the document in a conspicuous place at the individual’s residential address or business address;

(e)

by sending it by fax to the fax number last known to the person giving or serving the document as the fax number for the service of documents on the individual; or

(f)

by sending it by email to the individual’s last email address.

(3) A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership) may be served —(a)

by giving it to any partner or other similar officer of the partnership;

(b)

by leaving it at, or by sending it by prepaid registered post to, the business address of the partnership;

(c)

by sending it by fax to the fax number used at the business address of the partnership; or

(d)

by sending it by email to the last email address of the partnership.

(4) A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on a body corporate (including a limited liability partnership) or an unincorporated association may be served —(a)

by giving it to the secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or unincorporated association, or to the manager of the limited liability partnership;

(b)

by leaving it at, or by sending it by prepaid registered post to, the registered office or principal office of the body corporate or unincorporated association;

(c)

by sending it by fax to the fax number used at the registered office or principal office of the body corporate or unincorporated association; or

(d)

by sending it by email to the last email address of the body corporate or unincorporated association.

(5) Service of a document under subsection (2), (3) or (4) takes effect —(a)

if the document is sent by fax and a notification of successful transmission is received, on the day of transmission;

(b)

if the document is sent by prepaid registered post, 2 days after the day the document was posted (even if it is returned undelivered); or

(c)

if the document is sent by email, at the time the email becomes capable of being retrieved by the person to whom the document is sent.

(6) A document may be served on a person under this Act by email only with that person’s prior written consent.

(7) This section does not apply to documents to be served in proceedings in court.

(8) In this section —“business address” means —(a)

in the case of an individual, the individual’s usual or last known place of business, or place of employment, in Singapore; or

(b)

in the case of a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership), the principal or last known place of business in Singapore of the partnership;

“document” includes a notice or an order permitted or required by this Act to be served;

“last email address” means —(a)

the last email address given, by the addressee concerned to the person giving or serving the document, as the email address for the service of documents under this Act; or

(b)

the last email address of the addressee concerned known to the person giving or serving the document;

“residential address” means an individual’s usual or last known place of residence in Singapore.

—(1) A document that is permitted or required by this Act to be served on a person may be served as described in this section.

(2) A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on an individual may be served —(a)

by giving it to the individual personally;

(b)

by sending it by prepaid registered post to the address specified by the individual for the service of documents or, if no address is so specified, the individual’s residential address or business address;

(c)

by leaving it at the individual’s residential address with an adult apparently resident there, or at the individual’s business address with an adult apparently employed there;

(d)

by affixing a copy of the document in a conspicuous place at the individual’s residential address or business address;

(e)

by sending it by fax to the fax number last known to the person giving or serving the document as the fax number for the service of documents on the individual; or

(f)

by sending it by email to the individual’s last email address.

(3) A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership) may be served —(a)

by giving it to any partner or other similar officer of the partnership;

(b)

by leaving it at, or by sending it by prepaid registered post to, the business address of the partnership;

(c)

by sending it by fax to the fax number used at the business address of the partnership; or

(d)

by sending it by email to the last email address of the partnership.

(4) A document permitted or required by this Act to be served on a body corporate (including a limited liability partnership) or an unincorporated association may be served —(a)

by giving it to the secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or unincorporated association, or to the manager of the limited liability partnership;

(b)

by leaving it at, or by sending it by prepaid registered post to, the registered office or principal office of the body corporate or unincorporated association;

(c)

by sending it by fax to the fax number used at the registered office or principal office of the body corporate or unincorporated association; or

(d)

by sending it by email to the last email address of the body corporate or unincorporated association.

(5) Service of a document under subsection (2), (3) or (4) takes effect —(a)

if the document is sent by fax and a notification of successful transmission is received, on the day of transmission;

(b)

if the document is sent by prepaid registered post, 2 days after the day the document was posted (even if it is returned undelivered); or

(c)

if the document is sent by email, at the time the email becomes capable of being retrieved by the person to whom the document is sent.

(6) A document may be served on a person under this Act by email only with that person’s prior written consent.

(7) This section does not apply to documents to be served in proceedings in court.

(8) In this section —“business address” means —(a)

in the case of an individual, the individual’s usual or last known place of business, or place of employment, in Singapore; or

(b)

in the case of a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership), the principal or last known place of business in Singapore of the partnership;

“document” includes a notice or an order permitted or required by this Act to be served;

“last email address” means —(a)

the last email address given, by the addressee concerned to the person giving or serving the document, as the email address for the service of documents under this Act; or

(b)

the last email address of the addressee concerned known to the person giving or serving the document;

“residential address” means an individual’s usual or last known place of residence in Singapore.