NTIn ForceAct
Interpretation Act 1978
25Service of documents
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 25
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Interpretation Act 1978.
25 Service of documents
(1) A person may serve a document on an individual or body (the
recipient):
(a) by giving it to:
(i) if the recipient is an individual – the recipient; or
Interpretation Act 1978 21
(ii) if the recipient is a body – an executive officer of the
body; or
(iii) in any case – a person authorised by the recipient to
receive the document; or
(b) by sending it by prepaid post addressed to the recipient at the
recipient's address; or
(c) by sending it to the recipient by fax; or
(d) by leaving it, addressed to the recipient, at the recipient's
address with someone who appears to be at least 16 years
old and appears to live or be employed there.
(2) A document served under subsection (1)(b) is taken to be served
when it would have been delivered in the ordinary course of post.
(3) Subject to evidence to the contrary, a document served under
subsection (1)(c) is taken to be served when it was sent to a current
fax number of the recipient.
(4) A document served under subsection (1)(d) is taken to be served
when it was left with the person mentioned in the subsection.
(5) This section has effect for the service of a document whether or not
the word serve is used in the law providing for the service of the
document.
(6) In this section:
address, of a recipient, includes the latest home and business
addresses of the recipient that are recorded for a law in force in the
body includes an incorporated body.
document includes a notice and any other thing that may be sent
by a method mentioned in subsection (1).
executive officer, of a body, means:
(a) for an Agency – the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency. or
(b) otherwise – a person (however described) who is concerned
with, or participates in, the body's management.