Part 78
Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments
Contents of this Part
| Scope of this Part | Rule 78.1 |
| Application for registration | Rule 78.2 |
| Security for costs | Rule 78.3 |
| Order for registration | Rule 78.4 |
| Register of judgments | Rule 78.5 |
| Notice of registration | Rule 78.6 |
| Application to set aside registration | Rule 78.7 |
| Issue of execution | Rule 78.8 |
| Certified copy of High Court judgment | Rule 78.9 |
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| Scope of this Part 78.1 (1) This Part deals with the procedure under which a judgment of a foreign court or tribunal may be registered in the High Court for enforcement in Trinidad and Tobago. (2) In this Part "the Act" means the Judgments Extension Act Chap 5;02.
Application for registration 78.2 (1) An application to have a judgment within the meaning of the Act and to which the Act applies registered in the High Court may be made without notice but must be supported by evidence. (a) exhibiting the judgment or a verified or certified or otherwise duly authenticated copy thereof and, where the judgment is not in the English language, a translation thereof in that language certified by a notary public or authenticated by affidavit; (b) stating the name, trade or business and the usual or last known place of abode or business of the judgment creditor and the judgment debtor respectively, so far as known to the deponent; (c) stating to the best of the information or belief of the deponent - (i) that the judgment creditor is entitled to enforce the judgment; and either (ii) that at the date of the application the judgment has not been satisfied; or (iii) the amount in respect of which it remains unsatisfied, and, in either case, (iv) that the judgment does not fall within any of the cases in which a judgment may not be ordered to be registered under section 4 of the Act; and (v) that the registration would not be, or be liable to be, set aside; and (d) specifying the amount of the interest, if any, which under the law of the country of the original court has become due under the judgment up to the time of registration.
Security for costs 78.3 The court may order the judgment creditor to give security for the costs of the application for registration and of any proceedings which may be brought to set aside the registration.
Order for registration 78.4 (1) An order giving leave to register a judgment must be drawn up by, or on behalf of, the judgment creditor. (2) Except where the order is made following an application on notice , it need not be served on the judgment debtor. (3) Every such order must state the period within which an application may be made to set aside the registration and contain a notification that execution on the judgment will not issue until after the expiration of that period. (4) The court may, on an application made at any time while it remains competent for any party to apply to have the registration set aside, extend the period (either as originally fixed or as subsequently extended) within which an application to have the registration set aside may be made. (5) The court hearing the application may however direct that notice be given to any person.
Register of judgments 78.5 (1) A register of the judgments ordered to be registered under the Act must be kept in the court office. (2) There must be included in each such register particulars of any execution issued on a judgment ordered to be so registered.
Notice of registration 78.6 (1) Notice of the registration of a judgment must be served on the judgment debtor by delivering it to him personally or in such other manner as the court may direct. (2) Service of such a notice out of the jurisdiction is permissible without leave, and Rules 7.8, 7.9 and 7.10 apply in relation to such a notice as they apply in relation to a claim form. (3) The notice of registration must state - (a) full particulars of the judgment registered and the order for registration, (b) the name and address of the judgment creditor or of his attorney or agent on whom, and at which, any summons issued by the judgment debtor may be served; (c) the right of the judgment debtor to apply to have the registration set aside; and (d) the period within which an application to set aside the registration may be made.
Application to set aside registration 78.7 (1) An application to set aside the registration of a judgment must be supported by affidavit. (2) Where the court hearing an application to set aside the registration of a judgment registered under the Act is satisfied that the judgment falls within any of the cases in which a judgment may not be ordered to be registered under section 4 of that Act or that it is not just or convenient that the judgment should be enforced in Trinidad and Tobago, it may order the registration of the judgment to be set aside on such terms as it directs.
Issue of execution 78.8 (1) Execution may not issue on a judgment registered under the Ordinance until after the expiration of the period which, in accordance with rule 78.4(3), is specified in the order for registration as the period within which an application may be made to set aside the registration or, if that period has been extended by the court, until after the expiration of that period as so extended. (2) If an application is made to set aside the registration of a judgment, execution on the judgment may not issue until after such application is finally determined. (3) Any party wishing to issue execution on a judgment registered under the Ordinance must produce to the proper officer an affidavit of service of the notice of registration of the judgment and any order made by the court in relation to the judgment.
Certified copy of High Court judgment 78.9 (1) An application under section 7 of the Ordinance for a certified copy of a judgment entered in the High Court must be made without notice on affidavit to a judge in chambers or master. (2) An affidavit by which an application under section 7 of the Ordinance is made must - (a) give particulars of the judgment; and (b) show that the judgment creditor wishes to secure the enforcement of the judgment in a part (stating which) of the United Kingdom or other Commonwealth country to which the Ordinance extends and state the name, trade or business and the usual or last known place of abode of the judgment creditor and the judgment debtor respectively, so far as known to the deponent. (3) The certified copy of the judgment must be an office copy sealed with the seal of the Supreme Court and indorsed with a certificate signed by a master as follows - "I certify that the above copy judgment is a true copy of a judgment obtained in the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago and that this copy is issued in accordance with section 7 of the Judgments Extension Act, Chap 5:02." |