Summons vs. Subpoena — What's the Difference?

A summons (also known in England and Wales as a claim form and in the Australian state of New South Wales as a court attendance notice (CAN)) is a legal document issued by a court (a judicial summons) or by an administrative agency of government (an administrative summons) for various purposes.

A subpoena (; also subpœna, supenna or subpena) or witness summons is a writ issued by a government agency, most often a court, to compel testimony by a witness or production of evidence under a penalty for failure. There are two common types of subpoenas: subpoena ad testificandum orders a person to testify before the ordering authority or face punishment.

A call by an authority to appear, come, or do something.

An order issued under the authority of a court or other governmental body, commanding a person to appear and give testimony or to release certain evidence.

An order or process directing a person, especially a defendant in a case, to appear in court.

To serve or summon with such an order.

An order or process directing a person to report to court as a potential juror.

A writ requiring a defendant to appear in court to answer a plaintiff's claim.

To order to appear in or report to court by means of a summons

(legal) A writ requiring someone to appear in court to give testimony.

To serve with a summons.

(transitive) To summon with a subpoena.

A call to do something, especially to come.

A writ commanding the attendance in court, as a witness, of the person on whom it is served, under a penalty; the process by which a defendant in equity is commanded to appear and answer the plaintiff's bill.

(legal) A notice summoning someone to appear in court, as a defendant, juror or witness.

To serve with a writ of subpœna; to command attendance in court by a legal writ, under a penalty in case of disobedience.

(military) A demand for surrender.

A writ issued by court authority to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding; disobedience may be punishable as a contempt of court

(transitive) To serve someone with a summons.

Serve or summon with a subpoena;

The act of summoning; a call by authority, or by the command of a superior, to appear at a place named, or to attend to some duty.

A warning or citation to appear in court; a written notification signed by the proper officer, to be served on a person, warning him to appear in court at a day specified, to answer to the plaintiff, testify as a witness, or the like.

A demand to surrender.

To summon.

A request to be present;

An order to appear in person at a given place and time

A writ issued by authority of law; usually compels the defendant's attendance in a civil suit; failure to appear results in a default judgment against the defendant

Call in an official matter, such as to attend court