signifier en vain

19:27 Nov 17, 2019 

Thank you, Nathalie, for your very useful input and references!

14:44 Nov 16, 2019 

I found 2 examples, each illustrating one of the possible meanings:

https://www.legavox.fr/blog/maitre-anthony-bem/nullite-signi...
"La signification de l'assignation et du jugement avait en effet été faite, en vain, à la dernière adresse connue de l’intéressé qui n’y habitait plus."
> Here, obviously, notice of the decision could not be served, as the individual was no longer a resident at this address.

https://www.legavox.fr/blog/maitre-anthony-bem/sanction-resp...
L'exécution forcée d'une décision de justice est rapide dans sa mise en oeuvre par les huissiers de justice mais peut rester vaine si le débiteur est insolvable ou a organisé son insolvabilité, ce qui revient au même.
> Here, on the contrary, a decision was served but produced no results.

14:43 Nov 16, 2019 

Dear Ulla,
I think you are right to wonder, and the expression "signifié en vain" alone is not sufficient since it could go both ways. It depends on the context and on what else you know about the case.
Did the defendant not comply with the judgment because they never received notice of it, or because they knowingly refused to comply?

13:54 Nov 16, 2019 

I think it means that the decision of the court was notified on XX/XX/XXXX, but it yielded no results.