French Code of Criminal Procedure
In forceFor a judgment sentencing a person to a fixed term of imprisonment or a term of imprisonment suspended in part, handed down under the conditions provided for in article 410 and which has not been served personally, the time limit for appeal shall only run from the time the judgment is served at the home address, bailiff's office or public prosecutor's office subject to the provisions of the second paragraph. The judgment shall be enforceable on expiry of this period.
If it does not result either from the notice recording delivery of the registered letter or the receipt provided for in the articles 557 and 558, or of any act of execution or of the notice given in accordance with Article 560, that the accused has knowledge of the service, the appeal, both as regards civil interests and the criminal conviction, remains admissible until the expiry of the limitation periods for the penalty, the appeal period running from the date on which the accused has knowledge of the conviction.
If the person has been imprisoned in execution of the sentence after the expiry of the ten-day period provided for in the first paragraph and lodges an appeal in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph, he or she shall nevertheless remain in custody, under pre-trial detention and without prejudice to his or her right to make applications for release, until the hearing before the Court of Appeal.
The provisions of this article shall also apply in the event of iterative default.
