What you need to know about Subpoenas in Virginia Civil Matters

What you need to know about Subpoenas in Virginia Civil Matters

In Virginia, two frequently used subpoenas can be served to assist a party in a civil matter to further aid in discovery or at trial. Those two types of subpoenas are a subpoena duces tecum and a witness subpoena.

Subpoena duces tecum

A subpoena duces tecum can be served upon both parties and non-parties to a civil matter pursuant to Virginia Code § 16.1-89 and Virginia Supreme Court Rule 4:9A. Duces tecum is Latin for “bring with you,” which is exactly what a subpoena duces tecum is requesting of a person or entity. This type of subpoena is an order that requests a person or entity to produce specific documents at a specified time and location, which may be relevant to your case.

Who can issue a subpoena duces tecum? 

A subpoena duces tecum can only be issued after a lawsuit is filed. After a lawsuit has been filed, an attorney licensed to practice law in Virginia, who is in good standing, can issue a subpoena duces tecum to any party or non-party. Suppose a party to a lawsuit is unrepresented and not a licensed Virginia attorney. In that case, he or she can provide a written request to the clerk where the lawsuit is pending to issue a subpoena duces tecum on his or her behalf. The subpoena then must be properly served to the person or entity it is directed towards, copies of which must also be provided to all parties to the lawsuit.

Can you fight a subpoena?

Yes, after a subpoena duces tecum is properly served, any party to the lawsuit or the receiver of the subpoena can file objections and a Motion to Quash “promptly” after service. A Motion to Quash is a motion filed stating the legal objections to why a person or entity should not be required to comply with the subpoena. If a Motion to Quash or objections are raised in a timely fashion, the parties must resolve the dispute without Court action. If no agreement can be reached, then the party issuing the subpoena must file a Motion to Compel. A judge will then listen to arguments and decide whether such documents are required to be produced

Subpoena for Witness

In addition to a subpoena duces tecum, a party can issue a subpoena for a witness to attend trial or deposition pursuant to Virginia Code § 8.01-407 and Virginia Supreme Court Rule 4:5. Similarly to a subpoena duces tecum, a witness subpoena can only be issued after a lawsuit has been filed. It can also be issued by an attorney licensed to practice law in Virginia, who is in good standing or by the clerk of the court upon written request of a party pursuant to Virginia Code § 8.01-407.

A witness subpoena must also be properly served upon the witness whose testimony is sought. Virginia Code § 8.01-407 further states: “When any subpoena is served less than five calendar days before appearance is required, the court may, after considering all of the circumstances, refuse to enforce the subpoena for lack of adequate notice.” Make sure you get those subpoenas served well before that five-day deadline to avoid this misstep. 

Subpoenas are a useful tool available to parties in a civil lawsuit that can further assist during the discovery phase of a case and provide valuable information to prove your lawsuit’s facts.