Subpoena
Information for named person or other person (served with a subpoena or copy of a subpoena)
This brochure is for people who have been served with:
•	A subpoena and who are required to comply with the subpoena (named person), or
•	A copy of a subpoena as a party or interested person, and who may want to object to the inspecting or copying of a document/s to be produced in compliance with the subpoena.
It provides information about the use of, and compliance with, subpoenas in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (the Court).
Note: there are special rules covering subpoenas issued in New Zealand and served in Australia. These procedures are set out in the Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010 and the Family Law Practice Direction: Trans-Tasman Proceeding Act Proceedings.

What is a subpoena?
A subpoena is a legal document issued by the Court at the request of a party to a proceeding. A subpoena compels a person to produce documents or give evidence at a hearing or trial. 
There are three types of subpoena:
•	a subpoena for production
•	a subpoena to give evidence, and
•	a subpoena for production and to give evidence.
If a person refuses or is unable, of their own free will, to give evidence in the case or to provide documents to the Court, that are relevant to the proceeding, a party to a proceeding can request the Court issue a subpoena. However, the party should make attempts to get the required document or evidence by, for example, asking the person to provide it before requesting the Court to issue a subpoena.
A subpoena for production and to give evidence should not be sought if production of the document/s alone would be sufficient.
Information for the person subpoenaed
When served with a subpoena and you are the named person, you must comply with it unless you were not served correctly under the Court rules or were not provided with proper conduct money to attend court.
If you incur a substantial loss or expense greater than the set conduct money or witness fee, a court may order that the issuing party reimburse you for these expenses. 
Any claim for costs in attending court or producing a document under the subpoena must be met by the party issuing the subpoena and not the Court.
If you do not comply with a subpoena, the Court may:
•	issue a warrant for your arrest, and 
•	order you to pay any costs caused by your non-compliance.
The Court may also find you guilty of contempt of court.
This brochure provides general information only and is not provided as legal advice. If you have a legal issue, you should contact a lawyer before making a decision about what to do or applying to the Court. The Court cannot provide legal advice.
Are there any situations where I do not have to comply?
You are not required to comply with a subpoena if:
•	the subpoena was not served on you in the manner required by the Family Law Rules 2021, or
•	conduct money was not provided.
The person who asked the Court to issue the subpoena may decide they no longer need you to comply with the subpoena, in which case they will advise you in writing.
Conduct money and payment for loss or expense incurred in complying with subpoena
If a subpoena requires you to attend court to give evidence, the person serving the subpoena must give you conduct money sufficient for return travel between your place of residence or employment (as appropriate) and the Court. The amount of conduct money must be at least $25.
If you are not a party in the proceeding and you will incur substantial loss or expense in properly complying with the subpoena, you may apply to the Court (in writing) for an order that the party who has issued the subpoena pay you an amount (in addition to the conduct money) in respect of the loss or expense. If you wish to make such an application, you must, before complying with the subpoena, give notice to the issuing party that substantial loss or expense would be incurred in properly complying with the subpoena, including an estimate of the loss or expense.
Any claim for costs in attending court or producing a document under the subpoena must be met by the party issuing the subpoena and not the Court.
How long does a subpoena remain in force?
A subpoena remains in force until the first of the following events occurs:
•	you comply with the subpoena 
•	the issuing party or the Court release you from the obligation to comply with the subpoena, or
•	the hearing or trial is concluded.
Complying with the subpoena
Subpoena to give evidence
If the subpoena requires you to give evidence, you must attend court on the date specified on the subpoena cover sheet.
If you object to the subpoena you may make an application to the Court to have the subpoena set aside in whole or in part.
Subpoena to give evidence and produce documents
If the subpoena requires you to give evidence and produce documents, you must attend court on the date specified on the subpoena cover sheet and produce the documents set out in the schedule to the subpoena.
If you object to the subpoena, you may make an application to the Court to have the subpoena set aside in whole or in part.     
Subpoena for production of documents only
If the subpoena requires you to produce documents only, you (or an agent on your behalf) must produce the document/s set out in the schedule to the subpoena (together with a copy of the subpoena) by the date of production specified on the subpoena cover sheet.
Where possible, you should provide documents electronically (via email), entering the following details in the subject field of the email – ‘Subpoenaed material – file number – surname of parties – named person on subpoena’. All family law registries have a discrete generic subpoena email address e.g. [location].subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au. See the last page of this brochure for contact details.
If you are unable to email the documents, you should complete the notice in this brochure and either:
•	attend the registry on or before the date and time for production, as set out on the subpoena coversheet, or
•	post or deliver the document/s not less than two days before the date fixed for production on the subpoena coversheet.
If you wish to object to producing the document/s subpoenaed see ‘objecting to the production or inspection or copying of subpoenaed documents’.
You can object to the production of documents required by a subpoena for reasons such as:
•	the documents requested are irrelevant
•	the documents are privileged; for example, documents which came into existence as a result of a lawyer/client relationship, or
•	the terms of the subpoena are too broad.
If you do not object to producing the documents, the parties, interested persons, and the independent children’s lawyer may have an automatic right to inspect the documents. If the documents are not child welfare records, criminal records, medical records, or police records, they may also be copied.
Even if you have no objection to the documents being inspected or copied, a party, interested person, or the independent children’s lawyer may object. If there is an objection, you will be advised in writing.
NOTE: Do not send the documents to the person who asked for the subpoena to be issued. The documents must be produced to the Court (by email when possible).
Can I produce copies of documents?
Unless the subpoena specifically requires the production of the original documents or things, you may produce a copy of the document or things, see Rule 6.39, Family Law Rules 2021.
The rules
In the Court, the rules covering subpoenas are set out under Part 6.5 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021, referred to in this guide as the Family Law Rules 2021. 
NOTE: in respect of subpoenas to be served in New Zealand, see Family Law Practice Direction – Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act Proceedings.

Return of exhibits and documents that are produced
When producing subpoenaed documents, you may inform the Court that any document produced need not be returned and may be destroyed. If this happens, the Court will destroy or delete the document instead of returning it to you.
Otherwise, the Court must return the documents produced in compliance with the subpoena to you:
•	between 28 and 42 days after the order finally determining the application or appeal, or
•	earlier, provided that seven days’ written notice has been given to the party who filed the subpoena of the intention to return the document (this is only for documents that have not been tendered into evidence at a court hearing or trial).
Information for persons receiving a copy of the subpoena
The party issuing the subpoena is required to provide a copy of the subpoena to all other parties to the proceeding, the independent children’s lawyer (if appointed), and all persons who may be interested in the subject matter of the subpoena.
If you have received a copy of the subpoena and are not the person subpoenaed, you do not have to do anything unless you want to object to the documents listed in the schedule of the subpoena being inspected or copied by another party or interested person. If you want to object, see ‘Objecting to the production or inspection or copying of subpoenaed document’.
You may have a right to inspect or copy the documents subpoenaed. See ‘Parties right to inspect or copy documents’.
Objecting to the production or inspection or copying of subpoenaed documents
As the named person subpoenaed to produce documents, you may object to producing the documents. As a person receiving a copy of a subpoena to produce documents, you may object to the documents subpoenaed being inspected or copied.
If you wish to object, you must complete a Notice of objection - Subpoena form and file it with the Court before the date for production set out in the subpoena, together with a copy of the subpoena. 
If you are a party to the proceedings, you can eFile the completed Notice of objection - Subpoena form via the Commonwealth Courts Portal at www.comcourts.gov.au. For a step-by-step guide see, How do I eFile? at www.fcfcoa.gov.au/howdoi.
If you are not a party to the proceeding, you should submit the completed Notice of objection - Subpoena to the family law registry, via email, entering the following details in the subject field – ‘Notice of objection – file number – your name’. All family law registries have a discrete generic filing email address e.g. [location].filing@fcfcoa.gov.au. Contact details are on the last page of this brochure.
If you are unable to email, you can file the Notice of objection – Subpoena with the registry by post or by attending the registry in person. A list of family law registry locations is available on the last page of this brochure and at www.fcfcoa.gov.au.
Once filed, the notice will be processed by the Court as soon as practicable. The Court will complete the details on the notice, including providing a Court date and return it to you. You must then serve a copy of the Notice of objection - Subpoena, together with a copy of the subpoena, to the issuing party, and all other parties in the case. For a step-by-step guide see, How do I serve family law documents? at www.fcfcoa.gov.au/howdoi.
You must attend Court on the court date assigned to have your objection heard and determined.
Information for people whose medical records have been subpoenaed
If your medical records have been subpoenaed, you may seek to view your records before making a decision about whether you want to object to them being inspected. In this case, you need to notify the Registry Manager in writing before the date for production set out in the subpoena. If you then wish to object to your records being inspected, you must file your Notice of objection - Subpoena within seven days after the date for production in the subpoena. If you have not given notice to the Registry Manager that you wish to inspect your records, you must file a Notice of objection – Subpoena before the date for production. See ‘objecting to the production or inspection or copying a subpoenaed documents’.
Parties’ right to inspect or copy documents
If there is no objection to the production of the subpoenaed documents, and no court order has been made to set aside the subpoena, after the date for production set out in the subpoena has passed, the parties to the proceedings can inspect those documents. Documents, other than child welfare records, criminal records, medical records, and police records, may also be copied. 
Are there any restrictions in using a subpoenaed document?
A person must only use documents obtained by subpoena for the purposes of the case and must not disclose the contents or give a copy of any documents subpoenaed to any other person (except the lawyer representing them in the case) without the permission of the Court.
Legal advice
If you have any legal questions about subpoenas, you should get legal advice. You can get legal advice from a:
•	legal aid office
•	community legal centre, or
•	private law firm.
Court staff can help you with questions about court forms and the court process, but cannot give you legal advice. 

More information 
For more information, including access to the Family Law Act, the Family Law Rules and any of the forms or publications listed in this brochure:
•	go to www.fcfcoa.gov.au
•	live chat on the website
•	call 1300 352 000, or 
•	visit a family law registry near you.

This notice is to be completed and attached to the subpoenaed documents when complying with the subpoena. Please also attach a copy of the subpoena.
File number 	
To the subpoena clerk 
Registry address 	

I am producing the attached documents in response to a subpoena which is also attached. 
Please tick the box which applies:
I do not require these documents to be returned to me when they are no longer required by the Court. I authorise the Court to destroy or delete the documents at the appropriate time in a secure way. 
The documents are to be return to me at:

	
State	Postcode	
Signed	
Print your name 	
	
Date	
Served in accordance with Part 6.1
Approved by the Chief Justice/Chief Judge in accordance with Rule 15.21. 
The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia respects your right to privacy and the security of your information. You can read more about the Court’s commitments and legal obligations in the fact sheet The Court and your privacy. This fact sheet includes details about information protection under the privacy law and where laws do not apply.        0723V1
COURT LOCATIONS
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Canberra ~ Cnr University Ave and 
Childers St, Canberra ACT 2600
Producing documents: canberra.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au 
Filing a notice of objection: canberra.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
NEW SOUTH WALES
Albury ~ Level 1, 463 Kiewa St Albury NSW 2640
Producing documents: albury.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au 
Filing a notice of objection: albury.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
Dubbo ~ Cnr Macquarie and Wingewarra Sts, 
Dubbo NSW 2830
Producing documents: dubbo.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: dubbo.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
Lismore ~ Level 2, 29-31 Molesworth St Lismore NSW 2480
Producing documents: lismore.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: lismore.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
Newcastle ~ 61 Bolton St Newcastle NSW 2300
Producing documents: newcastle.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: newcastle.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
Parramatta ~ 1-3 George St Parramatta NSW 2150
Producing documents: parramatta.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: parramatta.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
Sydney ~ 97-99 Goulburn St Sydney NSW 2000
Producing documents: sydney.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: sydney.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
Wollongong ~ Level 1, 43 Burelli St Wollongong NSW 2500
Producing documents: wollongong.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: wollongong.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Darwin ~ Supreme Court Building, State 
Square, Darwin NT 0800
Producing documents: darwin.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: darwin.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide ~ 3 Angas St Adelaide SA 5000
Producing documents: adelaide.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au 
Filing a notice of objection: adelaide.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
TASMANIA
Hobart ~ 39-41 Davey St Hobart Tas 7000
Producing documents: hobart.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: hobart.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au 
Launceston ~ 1 Henty House, 1 Civic Square,
Launceston TAS 7250
Producing documents: launceston.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: launceston.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au

QUEENSLAND
Brisbane ~ 119 North Quay Brisbane Qld 4000
Producing documents: brisbane.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: brisbane.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
Cairns ~ Level 3 and 4, 104 Grafton St, Cairns Qld 4870
Producing documents: cairns.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: cairns.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
Rockhampton ~ 48 East St Rockhampton Qld 4700
Producing documents: rockhampton.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: rockhampton.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
Townsville ~ Level 2, Commonwealth Centre, 
143 Walker St Townsville Qld 4810
Producing documents: townsville.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: townsville.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
VICTORIA
Dandenong ~ 53-55 Robinson St Dandenong Vic 3175
Producing documents: dandenong.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: dandenong.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
Melbourne ~ 305 William St Melbourne Vic 3000
Producing documents: melbourne.subpoena@fcfcoa.gov.au
Filing a notice of objection: melbourne.filing@fcfcoa.gov.au
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Family Court of Western Australia ~ 150 Terrace Rd Perth 
WA 6000   Telephone: 08 9224 8222