Apply to issue a subpoena

In Queensland, a subpoena can be issued by the Supreme Court or District Court of Queensland to order a witness to appear in court to give evidence, produce documents or things, or both.

Am I eligible to apply online?

To be eligible to apply to issue a subpoena, you must:

  • submit a request that relates to criminal proceedings before either the Supreme Court or District Court of Queensland
  • be a party to the proceeding

Timeframe

Your request will be processed as soon as possible. Online requests will be given the same priority as requests received at a registry counter.

If you have not received the subpoena or otherwise received a response to your request within 2 business days, please contact the registry.

If you have an urgent request, you may wish to contact the relevant courthouse after submitting your request.

There must be a reasonable amount of time for service of and compliance with the subpoena.

When to apply for a subpoena online

You can apply online for Form 21—Subpoena to attend court applications only. For subpoenas relating to producing a document, please download Form 22—Subpoena to produce a document to the proper officer of the court (DOC, 16KB) .

This form will take about 5 minutes to fill out. Please allow more time if subpoenaing multiple people.

Please note: This form cannot be saved and returned to at a later point.

  1. Can I request a subpoena?
    1. Is your proceeding a criminal matter? *
    2. Your proceeding must be a criminal matter.

      Please contact the relevant Court Registry for further information.

    3. Are you a party to the proceeding? * View the definition of a party.
    4. You must be a party to the proceeding.

      Please contact the relevant Court Registry for further information.

  2. Proceeding details
      1. Is your proceeding being heard in the Supreme Court or District Court? *
      2. Has the indictment been presented? *
  3. Subpoena details
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  4. Person 2
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  5. Person 3
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  6. Person 4
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  7. Person 5
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  8. Person 6
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  9. Person 7
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  10. Person 8
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  11. Person 9
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  12. Person 10
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  13. Person 11
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  14. Person 12
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  15. Person 13
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  16. Person 14
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  17. Person 15
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  18. Person 16
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  19. Person 17
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  20. Person 18
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  21. Person 19
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
    7. Do you wish to request another subpoena for these proceedings? *
  22. Person 20
    1. Are you subpoenaing a person to attend court to: *
    2. What is the name of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    3. What is the address of the person or position being subpoenaed?
    4. When do you require the person to attend the court? *
    5. Single day
    6. Multiple days
      1. Period starting
      2. Period ending
  23. Applicant details These details will appear on the subpoena
    1. Are you applying on behalf of an organisation? *
    2. Organisation details (If you chose ‘Yes’ above)
      1. What organisation are you applying on behalf of? *
      2. Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (If you chose ‘ODPP’ above)
        1. Contact name
      3. Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (If you chose ‘CDPP’ above)
        1. Contact name
      4. Legal Aid Queensland (If you chose ‘LAQ’ above)
        1. Contact name
        2. Office address
      5. Legal firm (If you chose ‘Legal firm’ above)
        1. Contact name
        2. Legal firm address
      6. Other organisation (If you chose ‘Other’ above)
        1. Contact name
        2. Organisation address
    3. (If you chose ‘No’ above)
      1. Contact name
      2. Address
  24. Delivery method
    1. Do you want to collect the subpoenas from the relevant courthouse, or have them returned electronically? *
    2. (If you chose ‘Collection’ above)

      You will be notified by email when your request has been processed and is ready for collection. If you have an urgent request, you may wish to contact the relevant courthouse after submitting your request.

    3. (If you chose ‘Email’ above)

      You will receive an email to your nominated email address when your request has been processed. If you have an urgent request, you may wish to contact the relevant courthouse after submitting your request.

  25. Acknowledgement
    1. *
    2. (If you chose ‘Acknowledged’ above)

      Your application is now ready to be submitted.

      Please take the time to look over the details you have provided to confirm they are correct. You will be able to download and submit a copy of your application on the next page.