U.S. Embassy Ljubljana

Prešernova 31
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
Telephone: +(386) (1) 200-5500
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(386) (1) 200-5500
Email: LjubljanaACS@state.gov

U.S. Embassy Ljubljana

Slovenia Ministry of Justice

Slovenia is a party to the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters.  Complete information on the operation of the Convention, including an interactive online request form are available on the Hague Conference website.  Requests should be completed in duplicate and submitted with two sets of the documents to be served, and translations, directly to Slovenia’s Central Authority for the Hague Service Convention.  The person in the United States executing the request form should be either an attorney or clerk of court.  The applicant should include the titles attorney at law or clerk of court on the identity and address of applicant and signature/stamp fields.  Slovenia did not declare that it objects to the methods of service in Article 10.  For additional information see the Hague Conference Service Convention web page and the Hague Conference Practical Handbook on the Operation of the Hague Service Convention. 

Service on a Foreign State:  See also our Service Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) feature and FSIA Checklist for questions about service on a foreign state, agency or instrumentality.

Service of Documents from Slovenia in the United States:  See information about service in the United States on the U.S. Central Authority for the Service Convention page of the Hague Conference on Private International Law Service Convention site.

Prosecution Requests:  U.S. federal or state prosecutors should also contact the Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division, Department of Justice for guidance.

Defense Requests in Criminal Matters:  Criminal defendants or their defense counsel seeking judicial assistance in obtaining evidence or in effecting service of documents abroad in connection with criminal matters may do so via the letters rogatory process.

Slovenia is a party to the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil and Commercial Matters.  The Central Authority for Slovenia for the Hague Evidence Convention designated to receive letters of request for compulsion of evidence is the Ministry of Justice.  See the Hague Evidence Convention Model Letters of Request for guidance on how to prepare a letter of request.  Requests for compulsion of evidence under the Hague Evidence Convention are transmitted directly from the requesting court or person in the United States to the Slovenian Central Authority and do not require transmittal via diplomatic channels.  Requests should be submitted in duplicate with Slovenian translations. 

It is possible to take evidence (deposition) via video.  All district courts in Slovenia have video-conferencing capability.  See additional information on videoconferencing.

Requests from Slovenia to Obtain Evidence in the United States:  The U.S. Central Authority for the Hague Evidence Convention is the Office of International Judicial Assistance, Civil Division, Department of Justice, 1100 L St., N.W., Room 11006, Washington, D.C. 20530.

In accordance with the Hague Evidence Convention, voluntary depositions of U.S. citizen willing witnesses in civil and commercial matters are permitted.   However prior permission from the Slovenian Central Authority is required for testimony of a Slovenian national or a third country national on a case by case basis.  Oral depositions or depositions on written questions may be taken by U.S. consular officers or by private attorneys at the U.S. Embassy or at another location such as a hotel or office, either on notice or pursuant to a commission.  If the services of a U.S. consular officer are required to administer an oath to the witness, interpreter and stenographer, such arrangements must be made in advance with the U.S. Embassy directly.

A minimum of four weeks prior to the agreed-upon deposition date, the requesting attorney in the United States must provide to the American Citizen Services Unit with the following information.  More time should be provided to obtain permission from the Slovenian Ministry of Justice for the deposition of a Slovenian citizen or third country national.  Please provide a copy of notice to opposing counsel of anticipated taking of testimony; or a copy of the court order commissioning the consular officer to take testimony.  The notice or order should include the following: 

• Case name and docket number
• Court where case is pending
• Name/citizenship/address/telephone number of witness(es)
• Date and place of depositions  

It is the responsibility of the attorney arranging the depositions to engage a court reporter and, if necessary, a translator or interpreter. Please provide the American Citizen Services Unit with the names and contact information of the court reporter and translator/interpreter in advance of the deposition(s).

Slovenia is a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents. Slovenia’s competent authority for the Hague Apostille Convention will authenticate Slovenian public documents with Apostilles.  For information about authenticating U.S. public documents for use in Slovenia, see the list of U.S. Competent Authorities.  To obtain an Apostille for a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America, contact the U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Vital Records Office.