Civil Procedure Rule 6.9(2) states:
Subject to paragraphs (3) to (6), the claim form must be served on the defendant at the place shown in the following table.
(For service out of the jurisdiction see rules 6.40 to 6.47.)
Nature of defendant to be served Place of service 1. Individual Usual or last known residence. 2. Individual being sued in the name of a business Usual or last known residence of the individual; or principal or last known place of business. 3. Individual being sued in the business name of a partnership Usual or last known residence of the individual; or principal or last known place of business of the partnership. 4. Limited liability partnership Principal office of the partnership; or any place of business of the partnership within the jurisdiction which has a real connection with the claim. 5. Corporation (other than a company) incorporated in England and Wales Principal office of the corporation; or any place within the jurisdiction where the corporation carries on its activities and which has a real connection with the claim. 6. Company registered in England and Wales Principal office of the company; or any place of business of the company within the jurisdiction which has a real connection with the claim. 7. Any other company or corporation Any place within the jurisdiction where the corporation carries on its activities; or any place of business of the company within the jurisdiction.
I have a few questions on this—
What is #5 "Corporation (other than a company) incorporated in England and Wales"? Is not a company the sole form of corporation that exists in England and Wales?
"Principal office" is not defined within the Civil Procedure Rules. Is it necessarily the registered office (of a company/LLP)? Or where a company has a head office location that is different to its registered office (which might for example be that of its accountant), might the former be the "principal office"?
Where a company ceases to use a place of business, does that place immediately cease to be a "place of business" for them or would it remain a valid place of service thereafter?
Supporting citations/references much appreciated!