As a party in a court case, if you are unsure whether a witness is willing to turn up for a court proceeding to give evidence (testify), you may apply for an order requiring the witness to attend court on a specified date and time.
The application depends on the type of case:
Civil proceedings | Subpoena to testify. |
Criminal proceedings | Summons to a Witness. |
Family proceedings |
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Note: If you have received a subpoena or Summons to a Witness, find out more about being a witness and what you need to do.
The process to apply depends on the type of case:
You will need to make 2 visits to the State Courts Bail Centre (Level 4, State Courts) during the operating hours.
You need to do all of the following:
The court will process your application and inform you (through a phone call) whether your application is approved or rejected.
Note: If the hearing is scheduled within the next 7 days, you will need to confirm that you have informed the witness, and that the witness is agreeable to attend court if summoned.
If your application is approved, the court will ask you to return to the Bail Centre to meet a court process server. You will then serve the summons personally on the witness together with the process server. Personal service means handing the document to the witness in person.
Note: You are required to bear the process server's transportation costs, from and to the State Courts, to carry out the service.
If you are not represented by a lawyer, you can file the request at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau in person.
The request should include the following details:
No fees are involved. The court will follow up with your request and inform you of the next steps.
File a subpoena (Form 67, Rules of Court) via eLitigation. If you are not represented by a lawyer, visit the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau to submit your application in person.
The Service Bureau will notify you via email or SMS of the outcome of your application. If your application is accepted, you will need to return to the Service Bureau to collect the subpoena issued by the court.
How you serve the subpoena depends on which court your case is in:
State Courts cases | You will need to serve the subpoena personally on the witness together with a court process server. Personal service means handing the document to the witness in person. Visit the State Courts Central Registry (Level 2, State Courts) to make an appointment with a court process server. Bring your identification card (NRIC or FIN) and 2 copies of the subpoena issued by the court. You will be given a date to return to the Central Registry to meet a court process server and serve the subpoena on the witness. |
Supreme Court cases | Unless the court otherwise requires, you will need to serve the subpoena on the witness personally within 12 weeks after the date of issue of the subpoena. Personal service means handing the document to the witness in person. A subpoena shall not be served on any person outside of Singapore. |
If you need an urgent subpoena to be issued less than 3 days before a trial, there are additional fees.
The estimated fees for issuing a subpoena depend on where the case is heard:
Where the case is heard | Estimated fee |
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State Courts (Magistrates' Courts or District Courts) |
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Supreme Court (for claims not exceeding $1 million) |
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Supreme Court (for claims exceeding $1 million) |
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For Family Justice Courts (FJC) cases, how you apply depends on the type of case:
For cases in the Integrated Family Management System (iFAMS), you may make a request during a court mention, or file an application online via iFAMS. You will need to pay $1 for each summon issued by the court.
For most cases in the Youth Courts and cases under Part VII or VIII or the Women’s Charter in the Family Courts, you may put up a request in court to summon a witness. The court will follow up with your request and inform you of the next steps.
For other cases in the FJC, follow these steps to apply for a subpoena through eLitigation.
Prepare a subpoena according to Form 123 of the FJC Practice Directions and file it via eLitigation. If you are not represented by a lawyer, visit the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau to submit your application in person.
The Service Bureau will notify you via email or SMS of the outcome of your application. If your application is accepted, you will need to return to the Service Bureau to collect the subpoena issued by the court.
You need to serve the subpoena personally on the witness within 12 weeks from the date the subpoena is issued by the court. Personal service means handing the document to the witness in person.
If you need an urgent subpoena to be issued less than 3 days before a trial, there are additional fees.
The estimated fees for issuing a subpoena depend on where the case is heard:
Where the case is heard | Estimated fee |
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Family Courts |
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Family Courts (for proceedings under Part X of the Women's Charter, which includes divorce) |
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Family Division of High Court (for claims not exceeding $1 million) |
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Family Division of High Court (for claims exceeding $1 million) |
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