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When you need to summon a witness to testify

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

An order to attend court or an order to produce documents.

Criminal proceedings

Summons to a Witness.

Family proceedings

Note: If you have received a summons to a witness, an order to attend court or an order to produce documents, find out more about being a witness and what you need to do. 

For civil cases and certain family cases, orders to attend court or orders to produce documents may require a witness to provide evidence in any of the following ways:

  • Attend court to give oral evidence (testify).
  • Produce documents. It may be sufficient for the witness to produce the documents without attending court personally.
  • Attend court to testify and produce documents. 

How to apply for a summons to witness, an order to attend court or an order to produce documents  

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.

1. Visit the State Courts for the application

You need to do all of the following:

  • Bring your identification card (NRIC or FIN) to the State Courts Bail Centre (Level 4)
  • Fill in the Application for Issue of Summons to a Witness form.
    • This should include the witness' name and address. Explain why you need the witness to attend court in the Relevance of Witness to Case section.
  • Pay $20 for each Summons to a Witness issued.
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.

2. (If approved) Visit the State Courts for the service of the summons

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 represented by a lawyer, your lawyer can write in to the Registrar of the Supreme Court via eLitigation to request for a Summons to a Witness to be issued.

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:

  • Name and address of the witness.
  • Dates when the witness is required in court.
No fees are involved. The court will follow up with your request and inform you of the next steps.
Follow these steps to apply an order to attend court or an order to produce documents.

1. File the subpoena via eLitigation

File an application for an order to attend court or an order to produce documents via eLitigation using Appendix A2 of the Supreme Court Practice Directions 2021, Form 29 of the State Courts Practice Directions 2021 or Form 121 (DOCX, 50 KB) of the Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2024. 

If your case commenced before 1 April 2022, file a subpoena (Form 67, Rules of Court 2014) via eLitigation.

Other cases in the Family Justice Courts

  • 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 cases in the Youth Courts and cases under Part 7 or 8 of 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.
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 order to attend court or order to produce documents which are issued by the court

2. Serve the order to attend court or order to produce documents 

How you serve the order to attend court or order to produce documents depends on which court your case is in:

Supreme Court and Family Courts cases

You will need to serve the order to attend court or the order to produce documents on the witness personally at least 28 days (for Supreme Court cases) and at least 14 days (for Family Courts cases) before the hearing. 

  • If your case commenced before 1 April 2022, unless the court otherwise orders, you will need to serve the subpoena on the witness personally within 12 weeks after the date the subpoena was issued. 

 

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 Service Hub (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 State Courts Service Hub to meet a court process server and serve the order on the witness.

Note
An order to attend court or an order to produce documents shall not be served on any person outside of Singapore. 

Estimated fees

If you need an urgent order to attend court or order to produce documents to be issued less than 3 days before a trial, there will be additional fees depending on where the case is heard. 

Where the case is heard

Estimated fee

Supreme Court, including the Family Division of High Court (for claims not exceeding $1 million)
  • $50
  • $100 (urgent)
Supreme Court, including the Family Division of High Court (for claims exceeding $1 million)
  • $100
  • $200 (urgent)

State Courts (Magistrates' Courts or District Courts)

  • $10
  • $20 (urgent)

Family Courts


  • $10
  • $20 (urgent)


Family Courts (for proceedings under Part 10 of the Women’s Charter 1961, which includes divorce)

  • $7
  • $14 (urgent)

Resources

Legislation associated with this topic includes:

Cases governed by the Rules of Court 2021

  • Order 15 rule 4 of the Rules of Court 2021.

Cases governed by the Rules of Court 2014 (for cases commenced before 1 April 2022)

  • Order 38 of the Rules of Court 2014.
  • Appendix B of the Rules of Court 2014.
  • For family cases:

Cases governed by the Family Justice (General) Rules 2024 or the Family Justice (Probate and Other Matters) Rules 2024 (for cases commenced on or after 15 October 2024)

  • Part 15, Rule 5 of the Family Justice (General) Rules 2024.
  • Third Schedule of the Family Justice (General) Rules 2024. 
  • Order 15 rule 4 of the Rules of Court 2021 for cases commenced under the Family Justice (Probate and Other Matters) Rules 2024.
  • Third Schedule of the Family Justice (Probate and Other Matters) Rules 2024.
  • For cases in the Youth Courts and proceedings under Part 7 and 8 of the Women’s Charter:

Cases governed by the Family Justice Rules 2014 (for cases commenced before 15 October 2024)

  • Rules 601 to 610 of the Family Justice Rules 2014.
  • Fifth Schedule of the Family Justice Rules 2014.
  • For cases in the Youth Courts and proceedings under Part 7 and 8 of the Women’s Charter:

Refer to:

  • For Supreme Court:

Cases governed by the Rules of Court 2021

Cases governed by the Rules of Court 2014 (for cases commenced before 1 April 2022) 

  • For State Courts:

Cases governed by the Rules of Court 2021

Cases governed by the Rules of Court 2014 (for cases commenced before 1 April 2022) 

  • For Family Justice Courts:

Cases governed by the Family Justice (General) Rules 2024 (for cases commenced on or after 15 October 2024) 

Cases governed by the Family Justice (Probate and Other Matters) Rules 2024 (for cases commenced on or after 15 October 2024) 

Cases governed by the Family Justice Rules 2014 (for cases commenced before 15 October 2024)  

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Last updated on 24 October 20242024/10/24.