The name of this 'notice', please...

[Mehrgan]

Hi,

May I know, please, what the name for the notice from a court is? This is the paper delivered to one's house asking them to present themselves to the court at a specified date.




Thank you a lot!

[emsr2d2]

It's called a "summons". You are being summoned to court.

[SoothingDave]

It's a "summons" if you are the target of the court. A "subpoena" if you are being called to testify.

[Mehrgan]

Thanks a lot to you both dears!

[emsr2d2]

As far as I know, subpoena is not used in BrE (or rather, British law) - if we have any British legal experts on here, then please clarify.

A witness (who presumably will expect to testify) will be called to court with a "witness summons", but any call to court in British and Scottish law is a "summons".

[5jj]

As far as I know, subpoena is not used in BrE (or rather, British law) - if we have any British legal experts on here, then please clarify.

NOT A Lawyer

'Witness summons' is the name most commonly used in English law, though it is sometimes referred to as a 'subpoena'. In Scottish law (a very different system), it is generally known as a 'witness citation'.

[Barb_D]

In the US, jurors are summoned as well as defendants.

I think that witnesses don't have to receive a subpoena (the can come voluntarily), but if they are being required to appear, they are subpoenaed.

I was subpoenaed once in a nasty custody hearing. (I was the supervisor of the father. I would have gone voluntarily (the mother was so irresponsible!), but for some reason they thought I would appear more impartial if I was there in response to a subpoena.)

Some of these things may vary from state to state.