Glossary · Civil Procedure

Subpoena Duces Tecum

subpoena-duces-tecum-1867046503aff62b-2026-07-28

Type
Glossary
Jurisdiction
National
Date
2026-07-28
Topic
Civil Procedure

A court-backed command requiring a person or organization, often a non-party, to produce documents, records, or other tangible things. It differs from an ordinary subpoena, which compels only testimony. Recipients can object or move to quash if the demand is overbroad, seeks privileged material, or imposes an undue burden.

Definition

A court-backed command requiring a person or organization, often a non-party, to produce documents, records, or other tangible things. It differs from an ordinary subpoena, which compels only testimony. Recipients can object or move to quash if the demand is overbroad, seeks privileged material, or imposes an undue burden.

Subpoena Duces Tecum. A court-backed command requiring a person or organization, often a non-party, to produce documents, records, or other tangible things. It differs from an ordinary subpoena, which compels only testimony. Recipients can object or move to quash if the demand is overbroad, seeks privileged material, or imposes an undue burden. Example: The plaintiff served a subpoena duces tecum on the payment processor for two years of transaction records.