What is a subpoena?

A subpoena is a legal document that compels a person to appear in court and provide evidence. In Washington, a subpoena can be issued by both civil and criminal courts and is generally used to get someone to provide testimony or material evidence that may be relevant to a case. It is important to remember that a subpoena is not a request; it is a directive with legal repercussions for failing to comply. Subpoenas can be served in person, by mail, or electronically. Once a person receives a subpoena, they usually must respond to it before the deadline or face legal consequences, such as fines or even jail time. They must also appear in court or produce the required evidence. It is important to note that a subpoena can also be used to compel a person to provide documents that are related to the case in question. For example, a criminal court might issue a subpoena to a bank to provide financial records related to a case. Finally, it is important to understand that there are different types of subpoenas that can be issued in Washington. For example, “subpoena duces tecum” is used to require a person to provide tangible documents; “subpoena ad testificandum” is used to require a person to appear in court and provide testimony; and “subpoena ad testificandum et producendum” is used to require a person to appear in court and provide both documents and testimony.

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