Skip to content
LitigationForms
SUBP-020Mandatory

Deposition Subpoena for Personal Appearance and Production of Documents and Things

California · Judicial Council of California · Effective January 1, 2009

This form is a legal order that requires a person who is not part of a lawsuit to show up and testify at a deposition, and also requires them to bring specific documents or items.

The court describes it as: Orders a person who is not a party to a case to appear and testify at a deposition (give testimony outside of the court), and bring with them specific documents or things.

Open the official PDFfrom Judicial Council of California

Where this fits in a case

Discovery

Stage: Discovery

This form is used to formally order someone to appear and testify outside of court, and to bring records, during the process of a civil case.

Either party may file.

Official instructions

How-to guides published by the court for this form.

Common questions

What does this form order someone to do?
It orders a person to appear in person to testify as a witness at a specific date, time, and place, and also requires them to bring certain documents or things.
What happens if someone ignores this subpoena?
The form states that ignoring this subpoena can be punished as contempt by the court, and the person may also be responsible for $500 and any other damages.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect January 1, 2009.

Related forms

  • DISC-001

    Form Interrogatories—General

    This form is a set of general written questions that one party can send to another party in a civil case. It asks for detailed information about people, places, and events related to the case.

    OptionalFillable PDF
  • DISC-002

    Form Interrogatories—Employment Law

    This form provides a set of written questions, called interrogatories, that one party can send to another party in a lawsuit about employment law. It asks the receiving party to answer these questions under oath.

    OptionalFillable PDF
  • DISC-003

    Form Interrogatories—Unlawful Detainer

    This form is used to ask detailed, written questions about an unlawful detainer (eviction) case. It provides instructions for both the person asking the questions and the person who must answer them.

    OptionalFillable PDF
  • DISC-004

    Form Interrogatories—Limited Civil Cases (Economic Litigation)

    This form is a set of written questions used in civil lawsuits to ask another party for specific information under oath. It provides standardized questions for cases involving economic issues.

    OptionalFillable PDF
  • DISC-005

    Form Interrogatories—Construction Litigation

    This form contains written questions about construction issues that one party sends to another party to be answered under oath. It is designed to gather detailed information related to building construction disputes.

    OptionalFillable PDF
  • DISC-010

    Case Questionnaire—For Limited Civil Cases (Under $35,000)

    This form is a questionnaire used to help people involved in a small civil case settle their differences by exchanging information early in the lawsuit. It asks parties to provide details about the case, evidence, and damages.

    MandatoryFillable PDF
  • DISC-015

    Request for Statement of Witnesses and Evidence—For Limited Civil Cases (Under $35,000)

    This form is used to ask the other side to provide a list of witnesses, documents, and other evidence they plan to use at trial in a small civil case (under $35,000). It asks the other side to submit this information within 20 days.

    MandatoryFillable PDF
  • DISC-020

    Request For Admission

    This form is used to ask the other side to officially agree (admit) that certain facts are true or that certain documents are real. If something is admitted, it might not need to be proven later in court.

    OptionalFillable PDF