Subpoena

A subpoena is a legal document that commands a person to appear at a specified time and place to provide testimony or to produce documents or other tangible evidence. Subpoenas are typically issued by attorneys or by the clerk of the court under the authority of the judge. There are two types of subpoenas: subpoena ad testificandum, which requires a person to appear and give testimony, and subpoena duces tecum, which requires a person to produce documents or other evidence. The subpoena must be properly served on the person, typically by personal delivery or by mail with acknowledgment of receipt. Failure to comply with a subpoena can result in contempt of court and sanctions, such as fines or imprisonment. A person may object to a subpoena or seek to quash it on various grounds, such as undue burden, privilege, or lack of relevance.