A subpoena is a court order that tells you to appear in court at a specified date, time and place to give evidence. You may wish to show the subpoena to your employer to arrange for time off to attend court.
If you are unable to attend court because of a serious circumstance, you should immediately contact the lawyer who subpoenaed you. If you fail to obey a subpoena, a warrant may be issued for your arrest or you may be charged with contempt of court. If you are found guilty of contempt of court, you may be fined or given a jail term and you will have a criminal record.
You can contact the lawyer who subpoenaed you to make an appointment to prepare for court. It is a good idea to contact the lawyer before the court date to be sure the trial is going ahead as scheduled. If you are subpoenaed by one lawyer and later contacted by the opposing lawyer, it is okay to talk to both. However, you are under no legal obligation to do this.
If you have any questions, speak to the lawyer who you had subpoenaed. You also have a right to seek advice from an independent lawyer, although a witness is not usually represented by a lawyer.
How do I prepare for giving evidence in court?
What do I do when I arrive in court?
Testifying in Court
What will happen in court?
A subpoena is a court order that tells you to appear in court at a specified date, time and place to give evidence. You may wish to show the subpoena to your employer to arrange for time off to attend court.
If you are unable to attend court because of a serious circumstance, you should immediately contact the lawyer who subpoenaed you. If you fail to obey a subpoena, a warrant may be issued for your arrest or you may be charged with contempt of court. If you are found guilty of contempt of court, you may be fined or given a jail term and you will have a criminal record.
You can contact the lawyer who subpoenaed you to make an appointment to prepare for court. It is a good idea to contact the lawyer before the court date to be sure the trial is going ahead as scheduled. If you are subpoenaed by one lawyer and later contacted by the opposing lawyer, it is okay to talk to both. However, you are under no legal obligation to do this.
If you have any questions, speak to the lawyer who you had subpoenaed. You also have a right to seek advice from an independent lawyer, although a witness is not usually represented by a lawyer.
How should I behave in court?
What should I keep in mind when answering questions in court?
