If you are served with a subpoena, do you know what you should do? Ed Herman, with Brown & Crouppen, is here to tell us more and to explain what a subpoena is.
Ed starts by saying that a subpoena is basically a court order telling you that your presence is required at either a deposition or at a trial. They could be asking you to give actual testimony or to produce documents or records. These are usually the only reasons you would get subpoenaed to a case, unless you are party to a case itself and have to serve as a defendant.
Do you have to go if you are subpoenaed? Yes. Because it is a court order, this is in no way optional. If you have a legitimate reason, you can call the attorney that subpoenaed you and explain your situation. More often than not they can be accommodating. If they cannot be flexible, then the court order will take priority and you’ll have to make it work. If you do not go, you can be held in contempt of court.
With a subpoena, you most likely do not need a lawyer. However, if you think you might have done something wrong, then it never hurts to get the advice of an attorney ahead of time.
If you need legal advice, give the experts at Brown & Crouppen a call at 314-222-2222 or visit their website, getBC.com. You can also find them on YouTube.