To domesticate an out-of-state subpoena in Pennsylvania, attorneys submit the foreign subpoena to the clerk of court in the county where discovery is sought for re-issuance under UIDDA. Clerk issuance fees vary widely by county—often ranging from approximately $25 to over $300—and local Pennsylvania counsel is not required for routine issuance.
Countrywide Process
December 19, 2025
When litigation is pending outside Pennsylvania but discovery is required from a witness, business, or records custodian located within the Commonwealth, the foreign subpoena must first be domesticated before it can be lawfully served. Pennsylvania has adopted the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act (UIDDA), which authorizes a foreign subpoena to be reissued by a Pennsylvania clerk of court for service and compliance within Pennsylvania.
UIDDA domestication in Pennsylvania is a clerk-driven administrative process. In routine matters, no Pennsylvania attorney is required to issue the subpoena, no Pennsylvania case is opened solely for issuance, and no judge reviews the subpoena at the issuance stage. Attorneys submit the foreign subpoena to the appropriate county clerk, pay the applicable issuance fee, and receive a Pennsylvania subpoena enforceable under Pennsylvania law.
A subpoena issued by another state has no legal authority over a person or entity located in Pennsylvania. Domestication is required to:
Without proper domestication, service within Pennsylvania is invalid and unenforceable.
Under Pennsylvania’s UIDDA procedures:
This framework streamlines interstate discovery while preserving Pennsylvania’s authority over discovery conducted within its borders.
These rules govern:
Rule 430 governs authorized service methods within Pennsylvania and confirms that Pennsylvania service rules control service inside the Commonwealth.
Secure a valid subpoena issued by the originating court, including:
Submit the foreign subpoena to the clerk of court in the Pennsylvania county where the witness or records are located.
Key points:
The clerk issues a Pennsylvania subpoena that:
The Pennsylvania subpoena replaces the foreign subpoena for service purposes.
Service must:
If disputes arise, motions are filed in the issuing Pennsylvania court and governed by Pennsylvania law. Local counsel is typically required only if litigation arises.
Pennsylvania does not impose a single statewide UIDDA issuance fee. Fees vary by county based on whether the clerk:
Practice Tip: Always confirm current issuance fees with the county clerk before submission, as fee schedules and procedures vary and change regularly.
| Topic | Pennsylvania UIDDA Rule |
| Governing Law | Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act |
| Issuing Authority | Pennsylvania Clerk of Court |
| Judicial Review for Issuance | Not required |
| Pennsylvania Case Opened | No (routine UIDDA issuance) |
| Local Counsel Required | No (unless litigation arises) |
| Issuance Fees | Vary by county (approx. $25–$300+) |
| Venue | County where witness or records are located |
| Service Rules | Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure |
UIDDA permits the domestication of subpoenas for:
UIDDA applies only to discovery subpoenas, not trial subpoenas.
While the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act (UIDDA) is primarily designed for discovery (depositions and document production), its procedural framework is often the only viable way to domesticate any foreign civil subpoena in Pennsylvania.
Key Distinctions in Pennsylvania Law:
Practical Summary
| Subpoena Type | Is UIDDA Used? | Enforceability |
| Discovery (Deposition/Docs) | Yes | Fully enforceable through the local Prothonotary. |
| Trial (Physical Attendance) | No/Rarely | Courts generally lack the authority to force an out-of-state non-party to travel to PA for trial. |
| Trial (Remote/Video) | Yes | UIDDA is used to depose the witness in their own state for use at trial. |
If you need a witness to testify at a Pennsylvania trial from another state, the standard procedure is to use the UIDDA to subpoena them for a deposition for use at trial rather than attempting to force their physical presence in a Pennsylvania courtroom.
Countrywide Process supports attorneys handling Pennsylvania UIDDA subpoenas by:
Attorneys stay focused on litigation—not procedural mechanics.
We handle the process efficiently and in full compliance with Pennsylvania UIDDA procedures.
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Yes. Pennsylvania has adopted UIDDA, allowing foreign subpoenas to be re-issued by a Pennsylvania clerk of court for service within the Commonwealth.
No. Local Pennsylvania counsel is not required to issue a UIDDA subpoena in routine matters. Counsel is typically only needed if objections or enforcement proceedings arise.
The foreign subpoena is submitted to the clerk of the court in the Pennsylvania county where the witness or records are located.
Issuance fees vary by county and commonly range from approximately $25 to over $300, depending on clerk procedures and required state surcharges.
The Pennsylvania clerk of court issues the subpoena based on the submitted foreign subpoena. Judicial review is not required for issuance.
Service must comply with the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure.
Yes. Pennsylvania allows domestication of subpoenas for document production, business records, depositions, and combined discovery requests.
