

What To Know About Subpoenas in a California Divorce
What is a Subpoena?
A subpoena is a request, writ, or summons issued by a court of law or governing body which compels the recipient to appear in court or produce physical evidence in a case. It is a mandatory procedure which has to be fulfilled, the failure of which results in a penalty.
In cases where the subpoena does not impact the case in any way or the records are bound by confidentiality rules, the recipient can object and refuse to comply with the subpoena. If you have legal representation, then the subpoena is issued by an ‘attorney of record’, else a clerk of the court will do it for you.
Using a subpoena, you are able to
- Provide accurate documents supporting your case because the recipient of the subpoena is compelled by law to do so.
- Get the documents certified by a member of the court. This makes the documents a valid admission in court even if your partner objects to it, providing an exception to the California hearsay rule.
- Get your attorney fees reimbursed.
Types of subpoenas
Depending on the type of matter on hand and the client’s needs, there are 3 types of subpoenas.
- Civil Subpoena for Personal Appearance at Hearing or Trial
A civil subpoena is used to compel a witness to appear in court in order to provide evidence against the other party. It is often used to coerce the witness into pressuring the opposing party to cooperate.
- Civil Subpoena (Duces Tecum) meant for Personal Appearance and Production of Documents as well as Things At Trial Or Hearing and Declaration
It is similar to the civil subpoena but requires the witness to bring documents and records supporting their case to the trial or hearing.
- Deposition Subpoena for Production of Business Records
The deposition subpoena requests parties to present business records such as credit card statements, bank records, employment records, medical records etc. This can be used for parties who have declared their income as less than what they are actually making.
A subpoena is a useful procedure which may help you win your case. Ensure you engage the services of a good family-law attorney to prepare you for subpoenaing records and witnesses.
Getting divorced in California can be complicated. Download our free eBook, 18 Important Things to Know About California Divorce to educate yourself on the process.


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