Summonses and subpoenas are both legal documents that call a person or business into a United States court, but the difference has to do with why. A summons is generally used to inform someone that they are actually a party to a lawsuit, usually as a defendant. In most cases this means that the person is being sued, and the document will both inform them of the action and put them on notice that they need to prepare a defense. A subpoena, on the other hand, is typically used to call witnesses to court. Lawyers for each side of a legal dispute are permitted to choose witnesses who will offer testimony in support of their version of events, and witnesses are usually required to attend. Subpoenas inform prospective witnesses that they have been called, and also usually set out details of when the trial is and what the penalties are for failing to appear. Both types of documents usually compel mandatory appearance, and ignoring them can have serious consequences.
Documents for Calling Parties
When someone is being sued in the U.S., the law says that he or she needs to receive notice both of who has brought the action and where. This information is generally conveyed in a summons, which is an official order to appear in court. The exact information contained can very somewhat by jurisdiction and type of case, but most of the time it identifies who filed the action, names the lawyer representing that party, and states when the trial will be happening if a date has been set. Sending summonses is one of the first things that people do when they start a legal action. Almost anyone can sue anyone else for basically any reason, but a summons is a way to make sure that both parties have the same advantage when it comes to information about the legal proceeding and time to prepare, at least formally. These sorts of documents are used in both civil and criminal matters.
Legal Obligations Attached
The primary consequence of ignoring a summons is a default loss of the case, which is generally unfavorable. Judges don’t often look well on parties who fail to appear, and default judgments tend to be decided overwhelmingly in favor of the person or business who filed the case. People sometimes think that simply not appearing can make the case “go away,” but this isn’t how it usually ends up. Default judgments tend to be monetary, and the courts typically have the power to seize the losing party’s assets or garnish his or her wages to settle the debt. People who don’t appear in criminal actions often risk receiving heightened penalties and maximum sentences. Failing to answer a witness request, on the other hand, can land a person in jail. Witnesses are considered essential to the proper functioning of most trials, as they allow each side to build the best case possible. When someone who has been called fails to appear or ignores the order, he or she is generally considered “in contempt of court,” which is serious. People can sometimes get out of witness service if they have a hardship or other problem, but this usually has to be with the permission of the judge or lawyers involved. Simply ignoring the request is not usually an acceptable way forward.