Rule 234.2.Subpoena. Issuance. Service. Compliance. Fees. Prisoners.

Adopted December 14, 1989 · Last amended July 23, 2009 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 234.2 has the prothonotary issue a sealed, otherwise-blank subpoena on a party’s request, allows service in person or by certified or ordinary mail with an acknowledgment, requires the witness fee and mileage to be tendered on demand when the subpoena is served, and provides for compelling the attendance of a prisoner and for serving a minor witness.

Full Text of Rule 234.2

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

(a) Upon the request of a party, the prothonotary shall issue a subpoena signed and under the seal of the court but otherwise in blank, substantially in the form prescribed by Rule 234.6.

(b) A copy of the subpoena may be served upon any adult within the Commonwealth by an adult.

(c) The fee for one day’s attendance and round trip mileage shall be tendered upon demand at the time the person is served with a subpoena. If a subpoena is served by mail, a check in the amount of one day’s attendance and round trip mileage shall be enclosed with the subpoena.

(d) A court may compel the attendance of any person confined in jail or prison by issuing, upon motion, an order directed to the custodian of the person so confined to release the person to the custody of a sheriff or other appropriate agent.

(e)

(1) For the purposes of this subdivision, ‘‘guardian’’ shall mean any parent, custodian, or other person who has legal custody of a minor, or person designated by the court to be a temporary guardian for purposes of a proceeding.

(2)

(i) Except as provided by subdivision (ii), if a witness is a minor, a copy of the subpoena shall be served upon the minor and the guardian of the minor within the Commonwealth by an adult in the manner prescribed in subdivision

(b) .

(ii) Upon prior court approval and good cause shown, a copy of the subpoena may be served upon a minor who is a witness without serving a copy of the subpoena on the guardian. The copy of the subpoena shall be served upon the minor within the Commonwealth by an adult in the manner prescribed in subdivision (b).

End

Plain-English Summary

This rule covers the mechanics of a subpoena. On a party’s request, the prothonotary issues a subpoena under the court’s seal but otherwise in blank, in the form of Rule 234.6. It may be served on any adult in the Commonwealth by an adult — in person, by certified mail with restricted delivery, or by ordinary mail with the Notice and Acknowledgment of Rule 234.9.

Money and special witnesses are addressed. The fee for one day’s attendance and round-trip mileage must be tendered on demand when the subpoena is served, or enclosed by check if service is by mail. The court may compel the attendance of a person confined in jail or prison by ordering the custodian to release the person, and the rule sets out how to serve a subpoena on a minor witness and the minor’s guardian.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a subpoena issued and served?

The prothonotary issues it sealed but blank on a party’s request. It may be served on any adult by an adult — in person, by certified mail with restricted delivery, or by ordinary mail with a notice and acknowledgment form.

Do you have to pay a witness fee with a subpoena?

Yes. The fee for one day’s attendance and round-trip mileage must be tendered on demand when the subpoena is served, or enclosed by check if service is by mail.

Official Note

Office Note: For service of a subpoena upon a minor who is a witness, see subdivision (e). (1) in the manner prescribed by Rule 402(a); (2) by any form of mail requiring a return receipt, postage prepaid, restricted delivery. Service is complete upon delivery of the mail to the person subpoenaed or any of the persons referred to in Rule 402(a)(2). The return receipt may be signed by the person subpoenaed or any of such persons; or (3) by ordinary mail. The mail shall contain two copies of the Notice and Acknowledgment prescribed by Rule 234.9 and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Official Note: A subpoena served by ordinary mail is not enforceable unless the witness acknowledges having received it. See Rule 234.5(a).

Official Note: See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5903 for the compensation and expenses of witnesses. See also Evans v. Otis Elevator Co., 403 Pa. 13, 168 A.2d 573 (1961), regarding the right of an expert witness to refuse to testify on behalf of an adverse party.

Official Note: See Rule 76 for definition of ‘‘minor.’’

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 234.2 adopted December 14, 1989, effective January 1, 1990, 20 Pa.B. 7; amended April 7, 1997, effective July 1, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 1921; amended May 14, 1999, effective July 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2767; amended July 23, 2009, effective September 1, 2009, 39 Pa.B. 4738. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (256263) to (256264).

Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Last verified June 30, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: subpoena issuancesubpoena servicewitness feeprisoner subpoena