Subpoena Duces Tecum
(Trial) (NY)

Summary

This subpoena duces tecum is a standard form that attorneys can use in a New York state court litigation to compel a witness to produce documents and things at a trial or hearing. This template includes practical guidance and drafting notes. A trial subpoena duces tecum cannot be used as a substitute for pretrial discovery. See, e.g., Soho Generation v. Tri-City Ins. Brokers, 653 N.Y.S.2d 924, 925 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997). Rather, the purpose of a trial subpoena duces tecum is to compel the production of specific documents that are relevant and material to facts at issue in a pending judicial proceeding. Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. v. Town of Moreau Assessor, 779 N.Y.S.2d 608, 610 (N.Y. App. Div. 2004). A trial subpoena duces tecum cannot be used as part of a fishing expedition or to ascertain the existence of evidence. Bostic v. State of New York, 649 N.Y.S.2d 200, 202 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996). The subpoena must be in writing in English. 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). A trial subpoena duces tecum is typically issued by the court. N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 2301(a). Once issued, the subpoena must be served in compliance with N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 2303. If the witness is a party or within a party's control, service on the party's attorney may be sufficient. See N.Y. C.P.L.R. § 2303-a. This template is only for a trial subpoena duces tecum. For a discovery subpoena duces tecum, see Subpoena Duces Tecum (Discovery) (NY). For subpoenas to attend and testify, see Subpoena for Deposition Examination (NY) and Subpoena for Attendance at Trial (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).