Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
Rule 45 — Subpoena
Fed. R. Civ. P. 45
Fed. R. Civ. P. 45 (Subpoena) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.
Bluebook
Fed. R. Civ. P. 45.
Text
(a)INGENERAL.
(1)Form and Contents.
(A)Requirements—In General. Every subpoena must:
(i)state the court from which it issued;
(ii)state the title of the action and its civil-action
number;
(iii)command each person to whom it is directed to
do the following at a specified time and place: attend
and testify; produce designated documents, electroni-
cally stored information, or tangible things in that
person’s possession, custody, or control; or permit the
inspection of premises; and
(iv)set out the text of Rule 45(d) and (e).
(B)Command to Attend a Deposition—Notice of the Record-
ing Method. A subpoena commanding attendance at a depo-
sition must state the method for recording the testimony.
(C)Combining or Separating a Command to Produce or to
Permit Inspection; Specifying the For
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(a) INGENERAL.
(1) Form and Contents.
(A) Requirements—In General. Every subpoena must:
(i) state the court from which it issued;
(ii) state the title of the action and its civil-action
number;
(iii) command each person to whom it is directed to
do the following at a specified time and place: attend
and testify; produce designated documents, electroni-
cally stored information, or tangible things in that
person’s possession, custody, or control; or permit the
inspection of premises; and
(iv) set out the text of Rule 45(d) and (e).
(B) Command to Attend a Deposition—Notice of the Record-
ing Method. A subpoena commanding attendance at a depo-
sition must state the method for recording the testimony.
(C) Combining or Separating a Command to Produce or to
Permit Inspection; Specifying the Form for Electronically
Stored Information. A command to produce documents,
electronically stored information, or tangible things or to
permit the inspection of premises may be included in a
subpoena commanding attendance at a deposition, hear-
ing, or trial, or may be set out in a separate subpoena. A
subpoena may specify the form or forms in which elec-
tronically stored information is to be produced.
(D) Command to Produce; Included Obligations. A com-
mand in a subpoena to produce documents, electronically
stored information, or tangible things requires the re-
sponding person to permit inspection, copying, testing, or
sampling of the materials.
(2) Issuing Court. A subpoena must issue from the court
where the action is pending.
(3) Issued by Whom. The clerk must issue a subpoena, signed
but otherwise in blank, to a party who requests it. That party
must complete it before service. An attorney also may issue
and sign a subpoena if the attorney is authorized to practice
in the issuing court.
(4) Notice to Other Parties Before Service. If the subpoena com-
mands the production of documents, electronically stored in-
formation, or tangible things or the inspection of premises be-
fore trial, then before it is served on the person to whom it is
directed, a notice and a copy of the subpoena must be served
on each party.
(b) SERVICE.
(1) By Whom and How; Tendering Fees. Any person who is at
least 18 years old and not a party may serve a subpoena. Serv-
ing a subpoena requires delivering a copy to the named person
and, if the subpoena requires that person’s attendance, ten-
dering the fees for 1 day’s attendance and the mileage allowed
by law. Fees and mileage need not be tendered when the sub-
poena issues on behalf of the United States or any of its offi-
cers or agencies.
(2) Service in the United States. A subpoena may be served at
any place within the United States.
(3) Service in a Foreign Country. 28 U.S.C. §1783 governs issu-
ing and serving a subpoena directed to a United States na-
tional or resident who is in a foreign country.
(4) Proof of Service. Proving service, when necessary, requires
filing with the issuing court a statement showing the date and
manner of service and the names of the persons served. The
statement must be certified by the server.
(c) PLACEOFCOMPLIANCE.
(1) For a Trial, Hearing, or Deposition. A subpoena may com-
mand a person to attend a trial, hearing, or deposition only as
follows:
(A) within 100 miles of where the person resides, is em-
ployed, or regularly transacts business in person; or
(B) within the state where the person resides, is em-
ployed, or regularly transacts business in person, if the
person
(i) is a party or a party’s officer; or
(ii) is commanded to attend a trial and would not
incur substantial expense.
(2) For Other Discovery. A subpoena may command:
(A) production of documents, electronically stored infor-
mation, or tangible things at a place within 100 miles of
where the person resides, is employed, or regularly trans-
acts business in person; and
(B) inspection of premises at the premises to be in-
spected.
(d) PROTECTING A PERSON SUBJECT TO A SUBPOENA; ENFORCE-
MENT.
(1) Avoiding Undue Burden or Expense; Sanctions. A party or
attorney responsible for issuing and serving a subpoena must
take reasonable steps to avoid imposing undue burden or ex-
pense on a person subject to the subpoena. The court for the
district where compliance is required must enforce this duty
and impose an appropriate sanction—which may include lost
earnings and reasonable attorney’s fees—on a party or attor-
ney who fails to comply.
(2) Command to Produce Materials or Permit Inspection.
(A) Appearance Not Required. A person commanded to
produce documents, electronically stored information, or
tangible things, or to permit the inspection of premises,
need not appear in person at the place of production or in-
spection unless also commanded to appear for a deposition,
hearing, or trial.
(B) Objections. A person commanded to produce docu-
ments or tangible things or to permit inspection may
serve on the party or attorney designated in the subpoena
a written objection to inspecting, copying, testing, or sam-
pling any or all of the materials or to inspecting the prem-
ises—or to producing electronically stored information in
the form or forms requested. The objection must be served
before the earlier of the time specified for compliance or
14 days after the subpoena is served. If an objection is
made, the following rules apply:
(i) At any time, on notice to the commanded person,
the serving party may move the court for the district
where compliance is required for an order compelling
production or inspection.
(ii) These acts may be required only as directed in
the order, and the order must protect a person who is
neither a party nor a party’s officer from significant
expense resulting from compliance.
(3) Quashing or Modifying a Subpoena.
(A) When Required. On timely motion, the court for the
district where compliance is required must quash or mod-
ify a subpoena that:
(i) fails to allow a reasonable time to comply;
(ii) requires a person to comply beyond the geo-
graphical limits specified in Rule 45(c);
(iii) requires disclosure of privileged or other pro-
tected matter, if no exception or waiver applies; or
(iv) subjects a person to undue burden.
(B) When Permitted. To protect a person subject to or af-
fected by a subpoena, the court for the district where com-
pliance is required may, on motion, quash or modify the
subpoena if it requires:
(i) disclosing a trade secret or other confidential re-
search, development, or commercial information; or
(ii) disclosing an unretained expert’s opinion or in-
formation that does not describe specific occurrences
in dispute and results from the expert’s study that was
not requested by a party.
(C) Specifying Conditions as an Alternative. In the circum-
stances described in Rule 45(d)(3)(B), the court may, in-
stead of quashing or modifying a subpoena, order appear-
ance or production under specified conditions if the serv-
ing party:
(i) shows a substantial need for the testimony or ma-
terial that cannot be otherwise met without undue
hardship; and
(ii) ensures that the subpoenaed person will be rea-
sonably compensated.
(e) DUTIESINRESPONDINGTOASUBPOENA.
(1) Producing Documents or Electronically Stored Information.
These procedures apply to producing documents or electroni-
cally stored information:
(A) Documents. A person responding to a subpoena to
produce documents must produce them as they are kept in
the ordinary course of business or must organize and label
them to correspond to the categories in the demand.
(B) Form for Producing Electronically Stored Information
Not Specified. If a subpoena does not specify a form for pro-
ducing electronically stored information, the person re-
sponding must produce it in a form or forms in which it is
ordinarily maintained or in a reasonably usable form or
forms.
(C) Electronically Stored Information Produced in Only One
Form. The person responding need not produce the same
electronically stored information in more than one form.
(D) Inaccessible Electronically Stored Information. The per-
son responding need not provide discovery of electroni-
cally stored information from sources that the person
identifies as not reasonably accessible because of undue
burden or cost. On motion to compel discovery or for a
protective order, the person responding must show that
the information is not reasonably accessible because of
undue burden or cost. If that showing is made, the court
may nonetheless order discovery from such sources if the
requesting party shows good cause, considering the limita-
tions of Rule 26(b)(2)(C). The court may specify conditions
for the discovery.
(2) Claiming Privilege or Protection.
(A) Information Withheld. A person withholding subpoe-
naed information under a claim that it is privileged or
subject to protection as trial-preparation material must:
(i) expressly make the claim; and
(ii) describe the nature of the withheld documents,
communications, or tangible things in a manner that,
without revealing information itself privileged or pro-
tected, will enable the parties to assess the claim.
(B) Information Produced. If information produced in re-
sponse to a subpoena is subject to a claim of privilege or
of protection as trial-preparation material, the person
making the claim may notify any party that received the
information of the claim and the basis for it. After being
notified, a party must promptly return, sequester, or de-
stroy the specified information and any copies it has; must
not use or disclose the information until the claim is re-
solved; must take reasonable steps to retrieve the informa-
tion if the party disclosed it before being notified; and may
promptly present the information under seal to the court
for the district where compliance is required for a deter-
mination of the claim. The person who produced the infor-
mation must preserve the information until the claim is
resolved.
(f) TRANSFERRING A SUBPOENA-RELATED MOTION. When the court
where compliance is required did not issue the subpoena, it may
transfer a motion under this rule to the issuing court if the person
subject to the subpoena consents or if the court finds exceptional
circumstances. Then, if the attorney for a person subject to a sub-
poena is authorized to practice in the court where the motion was
made, the attorney may file papers and appear on the motion as
an officer of the issuing court. To enforce its order, the issuing
court may transfer the order to the court where the motion was
made.
(g) CONTEMPT. The court for the district where compliance is re-
quired—and also, after a motion is transferred, the issuing court—
may hold in contempt a person who, having been served, fails
without adequate excuse to obey the subpoena or an order related
to it.
(1) Form and Contents.
(A) Requirements—In General. Every subpoena must:
(i) state the court from which it issued;
(ii) state the title of the action and its civil-action
number;
(iii) command each person to whom it is directed to
do the following at a specified time and place: attend
and testify; produce designated documents, electroni-
cally stored information, or tangible things in that
person’s possession, custody, or control; or permit the
inspection of premises; and
(iv) set out the text of Rule 45(d) and (e).
(B) Command to Attend a Deposition—Notice of the Record-
ing Method. A subpoena commanding attendance at a depo-
sition must state the method for recording the testimony.
(C) Combining or Separating a Command to Produce or to
Permit Inspection; Specifying the Form for Electronically
Stored Information. A command to produce documents,
electronically stored information, or tangible things or to
permit the inspection of premises may be included in a
subpoena commanding attendance at a deposition, hear-
ing, or trial, or may be set out in a separate subpoena. A
subpoena may specify the form or forms in which elec-
tronically stored information is to be produced.
(D) Command to Produce; Included Obligations. A com-
mand in a subpoena to produce documents, electronically
stored information, or tangible things requires the re-
sponding person to permit inspection, copying, testing, or
sampling of the materials.
(2) Issuing Court. A subpoena must issue from the court
where the action is pending.
(3) Issued by Whom. The clerk must issue a subpoena, signed
but otherwise in blank, to a party who requests it. That party
must complete it before service. An attorney also may issue
and sign a subpoena if the attorney is authorized to practice
in the issuing court.
(4) Notice to Other Parties Before Service. If the subpoena com-
mands the production of documents, electronically stored in-
formation, or tangible things or the inspection of premises be-
fore trial, then before it is served on the person to whom it is
directed, a notice and a copy of the subpoena must be served
on each party.
(b) SERVICE.
(1) By Whom and How; Tendering Fees. Any person who is at
least 18 years old and not a party may serve a subpoena. Serv-
ing a subpoena requires delivering a copy to the named person
and, if the subpoena requires that person’s attendance, ten-
dering the fees for 1 day’s attendance and the mileage allowed
by law. Fees and mileage need not be tendered when the sub-
poena issues on behalf of the United States or any of its offi-
cers or agencies.
(2) Service in the United States. A subpoena may be served at
any place within the United States.
(3) Service in a Foreign Country. 28 U.S.C. §1783 governs issu-
ing and serving a subpoena directed to a United States na-
tional or resident who is in a foreign country.
(4) Proof of Service. Proving service, when necessary, requires
filing with the issuing court a statement showing the date and
manner of service and the names of the persons served. The
statement must be certified by the server.
(c) PLACEOFCOMPLIANCE.
(1) For a Trial, Hearing, or Deposition. A subpoena may com-
mand a person to attend a trial, hearing, or deposition only as
follows:
(A) within 100 miles of where the person resides, is em-
ployed, or regularly transacts business in person; or
(B) within the state where the person resides, is em-
ployed, or regularly transacts business in person, if the
person
(i) is a party or a party’s officer; or
(ii) is commanded to attend a trial and would not
incur substantial expense.
(2) For Other Discovery. A subpoena may command:
(A) production of documents, electronically stored infor-
mation, or tangible things at a place within 100 miles of
where the person resides, is employed, or regularly trans-
acts business in person; and
(B) inspection of premises at the premises to be in-
spected.
(d) PROTECTING A PERSON SUBJECT TO A SUBPOENA; ENFORCE-
MENT.
(1) Avoiding Undue Burden or Expense; Sanctions. A party or
attorney responsible for issuing and serving a subpoena must
take reasonable steps to avoid imposing undue burden or ex-
pense on a person subject to the subpoena. The court for the
district where compliance is required must enforce this duty
and impose an appropriate sanction—which may include lost
earnings and reasonable attorney’s fees—on a party or attor-
ney who fails to comply.
(2) Command to Produce Materials or Permit Inspection.
(A) Appearance Not Required. A person commanded to
produce documents, electronically stored information, or
tangible things, or to permit the inspection of premises,
need not appear in person at the place of production or in-
spection unless also commanded to appear for a deposition,
hearing, or trial.
(B) Objections. A person commanded to produce docu-
ments or tangible things or to permit inspection may
serve on the party or attorney designated in the subpoena
a written objection to inspecting, copying, testing, or sam-
pling any or all of the materials or to inspecting the prem-
ises—or to producing electronically stored information in
the form or forms requested. The objection must be served
before the earlier of the time specified for compliance or
14 days after the subpoena is served. If an objection is
made, the following rules apply:
(i) At any time, on notice to the commanded person,
the serving party may move the court for the district
where compliance is required for an order compelling
production or inspection.
(ii) These acts may be required only as directed in
the order, and the order must protect a person who is
neither a party nor a party’s officer from significant
expense resulting from compliance.
(3) Quashing or Modifying a Subpoena.
(A) When Required. On timely motion, the court for the
district where compliance is required must quash or mod-
ify a subpoena that:
(i) fails to allow a reasonable time to comply;
(ii) requires a person to comply beyond the geo-
graphical limits specified in Rule 45(c);
(iii) requires disclosure of privileged or other pro-
tected matter, if no exception or waiver applies; or
(iv) subjects a person to undue burden.
(B) When Permitted. To protect a person subject to or af-
fected by a subpoena, the court for the district where com-
pliance is required may, on motion, quash or modify the
subpoena if it requires:
(i) disclosing a trade secret or other confidential re-
search, development, or commercial information; or
(ii) disclosing an unretained expert’s opinion or in-
formation that does not describe specific occurrences
in dispute and results from the expert’s study that was
not requested by a party.
(C) Specifying Conditions as an Alternative. In the circum-
stances described in Rule 45(d)(3)(B), the court may, in-
stead of quashing or modifying a subpoena, order appear-
ance or production under specified conditions if the serv-
ing party:
(i) shows a substantial need for the testimony or ma-
terial that cannot be otherwise met without undue
hardship; and
(ii) ensures that the subpoenaed person will be rea-
sonably compensated.
(e) DUTIESINRESPONDINGTOASUBPOENA.
(1) Producing Documents or Electronically Stored Information.
These procedures apply to producing documents or electroni-
cally stored information:
(A) Documents. A person responding to a subpoena to
produce documents must produce them as they are kept in
the ordinary course of business or must organize and label
them to correspond to the categories in the demand.
(B) Form for Producing Electronically Stored Information
Not Specified. If a subpoena does not specify a form for pro-
ducing electronically stored information, the person re-
sponding must produce it in a form or forms in which it is
ordinarily maintained or in a reasonably usable form or
forms.
(C) Electronically Stored Information Produced in Only One
Form. The person responding need not produce the same
electronically stored information in more than one form.
(D) Inaccessible Electronically Stored Information. The per-
son responding need not provide discovery of electroni-
cally stored information from sources that the person
identifies as not reasonably accessible because of undue
burden or cost. On motion to compel discovery or for a
protective order, the person responding must show that
the information is not reasonably accessible because of
undue burden or cost. If that showing is made, the court
may nonetheless order discovery from such sources if the
requesting party shows good cause, considering the limita-
tions of Rule 26(b)(2)(C). The court may specify conditions
for the discovery.
(2) Claiming Privilege or Protection.
(A) Information Withheld. A person withholding subpoe-
naed information under a claim that it is privileged or
subject to protection as trial-preparation material must:
(i) expressly make the claim; and
(ii) describe the nature of the withheld documents,
communications, or tangible things in a manner that,
without revealing information itself privileged or pro-
tected, will enable the parties to assess the claim.
(B) Information Produced. If information produced in re-
sponse to a subpoena is subject to a claim of privilege or
of protection as trial-preparation material, the person
making the claim may notify any party that received the
information of the claim and the basis for it. After being
notified, a party must promptly return, sequester, or de-
stroy the specified information and any copies it has; must
not use or disclose the information until the claim is re-
solved; must take reasonable steps to retrieve the informa-
tion if the party disclosed it before being notified; and may
promptly present the information under seal to the court
for the district where compliance is required for a deter-
mination of the claim. The person who produced the infor-
mation must preserve the information until the claim is
resolved.
(f) TRANSFERRING A SUBPOENA-RELATED MOTION. When the court
where compliance is required did not issue the subpoena, it may
transfer a motion under this rule to the issuing court if the person
subject to the subpoena consents or if the court finds exceptional
circumstances. Then, if the attorney for a person subject to a sub-
poena is authorized to practice in the court where the motion was
made, the attorney may file papers and appear on the motion as
an officer of the issuing court. To enforce its order, the issuing
court may transfer the order to the court where the motion was
made.
(g) CONTEMPT. The court for the district where compliance is re-
quired—and also, after a motion is transferred, the issuing court—
may hold in contempt a person who, having been served, fails
without adequate excuse to obey the subpoena or an order related
to it.
Related
§ 1783
28 U.S.C. § 1783
Advisory Committee Notes
(As amended Dec. 27, 1946, eff. Mar. 19, 1948; Dec. 29, 1948, eff. Oct. 20, 1949; Mar. 30, 1970, eff. July 1, 1970; Apr. 29, 1980, eff. Aug. 1, 1980; Apr. 29, 1985, eff. Aug. 1, 1985; Mar. 2, 1987, eff. Aug. 1, 1987; Apr. 30, 1991, eff. Dec. 1, 1991; Apr. 25, 2005, eff. Dec. 1, 2005; Apr. 12, 2006, eff. Dec. 1, 2006; Apr. 30, 2007, eff. Dec. 1, 2007; Apr. 16, 2013, eff. Dec. 1, 2013.)