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Texas's Premiere Process Serving Company
Sparre Process Serving, LLC

What is the difference between a subpoena and a summons?

What Is a Summons?

A summons is a legal document used to notify a person or business that they are being sued or that legal action has been filed against them. It is typically issued by a court and tells the recipient what they must do next.

What a summons usually includes

  • Notification: alerts the recipient that a lawsuit or legal complaint has been filed.
  • Instructions: explains how to respond and lists important deadlines.
  • Court appearance details: may include a date/time to appear in court.
  • Legal rights and consequences: may explain what happens if the recipient fails to respond.

A summons is important because it ensures the defendant has a fair opportunity to respond to the case and participate in the legal process.

What Is a Subpoena?

A subpoena is a legal document that requires an individual to take a specific action, such as appearing in court to testify or producing documents, records, or other evidence.

Types of subpoenas

  • Subpoena ad testificandum: requires the recipient to testify in a legal proceeding (for example, at a trial or deposition).
  • Subpoena duces tecum: requires the recipient to produce documents, records, or other tangible evidence related to the case.

Key aspects of a subpoena

  • Legal obligation: it is a formal court order, and non-compliance may lead to penalties.
  • Specific instructions: lists the time, place, and details of what is required.
  • Evidence gathering: used to collect testimony or records for civil or criminal cases.

Receiving a subpoena is a serious matter because it creates legal obligations and may carry consequences for failing to comply.

Difference Between a Subpoena and a Summons

A summons and a subpoena are both official legal documents, but they serve very different purposes in court cases.

Summons vs. subpoena: key differences

  • Purpose: A summons notifies someone they are being sued; a subpoena compels testimony or evidence.
  • When used: A summons usually starts a civil case; a subpoena is used during an ongoing case.
  • What it requires: A summons requires a response to the lawsuit; a subpoena requires producing documents or appearing to testify.

In simple terms: a summons initiates a legal action, while a subpoena gathers evidence for a legal action already in progress.

Statewide & Nationwide Process Service Rates

Why use SPS for your Statewide and Nationwide Process Service?

During the 14 years Sparre Process Serving, LLC (SPS) has been in business, we have collaborated with process servers all over the country to effectuate service for our clients. In doing so, we have established a comprehensive network of reliable and professional process servers that provide the same high quality of service that we demand from all of our staff. By utilizing a professional process serving company like SPS to coordinate your out-of-state service, you can rest assured that your documents will be served promptly and professionally. More importantly, out-of-state process service must follow the rules of the state in which it was issued. SPS provides all sub-contractors with implicit instructions to assure all serves are in compliance with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.


Routine
$135

Up to 3 attempts
First attempt within 5 - 7 days
All attempts made within 2 weeks

Priority
$165

Up to 3 attempts
First attempt within 24 hours
Attempted daily

Contact Us Today for Rates

Abbie A

Corin was extremely wonderful fulfilling a service I needed done. I was quite anxious we were not going to be able to serve the subject prior to the deadline, but Corin was able to get the individual served and provided me with the affidavit and invoice speedy quick. Thank you for all your help!!

Summer C

My office used Sparre Process Serving and we were very please with them. Corin is great! They moved quick and were very pleasant to work with. I will definitely utilize their services again!

Phillip N

Corin is great. After the constables office completing failing and giving up trying to serve who I was suing, Sparre did it on the first try. Don't waste your time nor money on having the courts do it. Come here first.

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process servers near me in texas
Austin Texas Process Servers

From citations and subpoenas to writs and TROs, Sparre Process Serving will deliver your court issued documents to any location in Travis County.

Austin in one of our two primary local service areas and the state capital of Texas. It's is located in two counties; Travis and Williamson County. It is the county seat of Travis County. There are numerous courthouses in Austin.

Local Websites
Austin Texas
Court Services
  • Court Filing, Citations, Summons, Writ, etc.
  • Subpoena
  • Temporary Restraining Order
  • Document Retrieval
  • Walk Through Service.
  • Skip Tracing for hard to find Defendants and Witnesses
Mobile Notary

Whether it be Acknowledgments, Affirmations, Certified Copies, Depositions, Oaths, Proofs or Protests, Sparre Process Serving will travel to the destination of your choice to provide notarial services for you or your client.

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Note for Serving serving a Texas filed document.

Duties of a process server. (Rules 16, 105, 501.3). a. A process server has two distinct and equally important duties: (1) to promptly and properly deliver the proper papers to the proper person; and (2) to promptly and properly complete and file with the court a return of service. The return of service, often referred to simply as the "return," is the written document used to prove that proper service has been made. A written return must be filed promptly with the court. Specific information must be stated on the return. A process server who has perfectly delivered a process has completed only half the job. The process server is required to file the return of service on all Texas cases.