Bermuda civil and statutory proceedings
When must a Bermuda statement of claim be served?
Serve with the writ or before fourteen days after that defendant’s appearance expires. Serve the statement of claim on each relevant defendant. The court can give leave to the contrary. A statement endorsed on the writ uses the express exception. Personal injury pleadings require the current medical and special damages material.
- Period
- Serve with the writ or before fourteen days after that defendant’s appearance expires
- Trigger
- The relevant defendant enters appearance
- Rule
- Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 1
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 1. Official consolidated body retrieved October 10, 2026. Bermuda Laws Online states laws amended through August 11, 2026. The consolidation includes BR 10/2024, BR 4/2025 and BR 13/2026, each retained separately.
Source guide · No automated date
Check the applicable procedure
The court can give leave to the contrary. A statement endorsed on the writ uses the express exception. Personal injury pleadings require the current medical and special damages material. Establish the relevant defendant enters appearance and the actual completion required to serve the statement of claim on each relevant defendant.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 1What lawyers say
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When must a Bermuda statement of claim be served?
Serve with the writ or before fourteen days after that defendant’s appearance expires. Serve the statement of claim on each relevant defendant. The court can give leave to the contrary. A statement endorsed on the writ uses the express exception. Personal injury pleadings require the current medical and special damages material.
Responsible actor. Plaintiff whose writ does not contain the statement of claim.
The relevant defendant enters appearance.
The court can give leave to the contrary. A statement endorsed on the writ uses the express exception. Personal injury pleadings require the current medical and special damages material.
The court can give leave to the contrary. A statement endorsed on the writ uses the express exception. Personal injury pleadings require the current medical and special damages material.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 1How does this provision count time?
- Establish the relevant defendant enters appearance.
- Serve the statement of claim on each relevant defendant.
- Use each defendant’s actual appearance event, not the time limited for appearing. Different defendants may produce different boundaries.
- Service and Registry filing are distinct. Registry closure does not automatically carry this service period.
Use each defendant’s actual appearance event, not the time limited for appearing. Different defendants may produce different boundaries.
Service and Registry filing are distinct. Registry closure does not automatically carry this service period.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 1Which facts prevent one automatic date?
The court can give leave to the contrary. A statement endorsed on the writ uses the express exception. Personal injury pleadings require the current medical and special damages material. Establish the relevant defendant enters appearance and the actual completion required to serve the statement of claim on each relevant defendant.
Plaintiff whose writ does not contain the statement of claim establishes the relevant defendant enters appearance. Use each defendant’s actual appearance event, not the time limited for appearing. Different defendants may produce different boundaries. Serve with the writ or before fourteen days after that defendant’s appearance expires. Serve the statement of claim on each relevant defendant. Establish actual completion before calculating a final date.
A proposed boundary intersects a closure or holiday while the party seeks to serve the statement of claim on each relevant defendant. Service and Registry filing are distinct. Registry closure does not automatically carry this service period. Establish the applicable computation and completion rule. No assumed carried date is supplied.
Two defendants enter appearance on different days. The court can give leave to the contrary. A statement endorsed on the writ uses the express exception. Personal injury pleadings require the current medical and special damages material. Resolve the changed source branch and required act. The nominal period alone does not establish this scenario.
Which conditions and exceptions apply?
- Actual procedure and branch
- The court can give leave to the contrary. A statement endorsed on the writ uses the express exception. Personal injury pleadings require the current medical and special damages material.
- Count and complete the actual act
- Use each defendant’s actual appearance event, not the time limited for appearing. Different defendants may produce different boundaries. Service and Registry filing are distinct. Registry closure does not automatically carry this service period.
- Actor and required completion
- Plaintiff whose writ does not contain the statement of claim. Serve the statement of claim on each relevant defendant.
- The court can give leave to the contrary. A statement endorsed on the writ uses the express exception. Personal injury pleadings require the current medical and special damages material.
- Plaintiff whose writ does not contain the statement of claim. The relevant defendant enters appearance. Serve the statement of claim on each relevant defendant. The court can give leave to the contrary. A statement endorsed on the writ uses the express exception. Personal injury pleadings require the current medical and special damages material.
What must the responsible actor complete?
Questions about this procedure
When must a Bermuda statement of claim be served?
Can the statement be served with the writ?
Yes. Order 18 rule 1 expressly permits that.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 1Which appearance date matters?
The appearance of the defendant on whom the statement must be served.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 1Does the time limited for appearing start this clock?
No. Rule 1 uses when that defendant enters appearance.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 1What if the statement is endorsed on the writ?
The rule expressly excepts that case from separate statement service.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 1Can the court direct another period?
Yes. Rule 1 is subject to leave to the contrary.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 1What changed for personal injury claims?
The 2025 amendment inserted Order 18 rule 12(1A) to (1C), requiring medical and special damages material subject to court powers.
Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 1Official sources and review
Provisions used (7)
| Provision | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Rules of the Supreme Court 1985 (GN 470/1985), Order 18, rule 1 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Order 3 rules 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Rules of the Supreme Court Amendment Rules 2025, Order 18 rule 12 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Rules of the Supreme Court Amendment Rules 2026, new Order 14A | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Interpretation Act 1951, sections 7–9 | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Public Holidays Act 1947, sections 3–6 and Schedule | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |
| Rules of the Supreme Court Amendment Rules 2024, Order 62 and Schedule | Check the identified procedure, event, counting rule or qualification |