Subpoena Duces Tecum
(Discovery) (NY)

Summary

This subpoena duces tecum is a standard form that attorneys may use in a New York state court litigation to compel a nonparty to produce documents and things during discovery. This template includes practical guidance, drafting notes, alternate clauses, and optional clauses. A subpoena duces tecum is the means by which a party can obtain discoverable documents and things from a nonparty without necessarily requiring the nonparty to appear and offer testimony. N.Y. C.P.L.R. 3120(1)(a). Usually the attorney of the party seeking the documents and things issues this subpoena, but various other individuals may also do so. N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 2301(a). The subpoena must be in writing and use the English language. N.Y. C.P.L.R. 2101(b). A court order is not required unless you are seeking a patient's clinical record maintained pursuant to N.Y. Men. Hyg. § 33.13. N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 2302(a). Once issued, the subpoena must be served in compliance with N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 2303. This template is only for a discovery subpoena duces tecum. For a subpoena duces tecum for trial, see Subpoena Duces Tecum (Trial) (NY). For subpoenas to attend and testify, see Subpoena for Deposition Examination (NY) and Subpoena for Attendance at Trial (NY). For a full listing of key content covering fundamental civil litigation tasks throughout a New York court litigation lifecycle, see Civil Litigation Fundamentals Resource Kit (NY). For more information on subpoenas, see Discovery Subpoenas: Drafting, Issuing, and Serving (NY), Discovery Subpoenas: Enforcing (NY), and Discovery Subpoenas: Responding (NY). For related checklists, see Discovery Subpoenas: Drafting and Serving a Subpoena Checklist (NY), Discovery Subpoenas: Enforcing the Subpoena Checklist (NY), and Discovery Subpoenas: Responding to a Subpoena Checklist (NY). To compare federal and state laws regarding third-party discovery, see the Drafting and Issuing Discovery Subpoenas topic in the Civil Litigation State Law Comparison Tool.