California courts cannot enforce subpoenas from other states—like Maryland—unless they are properly domesticated. This guide explains how attorneys can reissue a Maryland subpoena in California through UIDDA and serve it legally.
Countrywide Process
July 08, 2025
A subpoena issued by a Maryland court has no jurisdiction in California. If the target party—such as a witness, business, or healthcare provider—is in California, you must domesticate the subpoena in California before it can be served and enforced.
Both Maryland and California have adopted the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act (UIDDA), which simplifies this process.
Under UIDDA, attorneys can submit a subpoena issued in their home state (Maryland) to the clerk of court in the discovery state (California), and the California court will issue a local subpoena with equivalent terms—no motion, hearing, or local counsel required.
This UIDDA process applies when you need discovery in California for a civil case pending in Maryland.
Attorneys should prepare the following:
Important: Countrywide Process, LLC is not a document preparation company. We do not draft subpoenas. We provide the required forms and review submissions for completeness once the attorney completes them.
You must submit the documents to the Superior Court in the California county where the witness or documents are located. Some counties support eFiling, while others still require physical filing.
Countrywide Process can determine the filing method and handle submission for you.
A filing fee of $45.00 is required under California Government Code § 70626(b)(5). Additional fees may apply for certified copies, if needed.
Once issued by the California court, the local subpoena must be served following California’s service of process rules, which typically require:
Adherence to Evidence Code § 1560 for subpoenas for records
Domestication is required if you’re:
Subpoenaing a corporate representative or expert within California’s jurisdiction
Omitting required case or court info on the California forms
At Countrywide Process, LLC, we help law firms successfully domesticate Maryland subpoenas in California by:
Use our Subpoena Domestication Order Platform or contact our support team at (888) 962-9696 for assistance today.
No. UIDDA allows you to file administratively without local counsel.
Some counties in California accept eFiling for discovery subpoenas. Countrywide Process can confirm and file accordingly.
1–3 business days for UIDDA filings. Expedited options are available.
Yes. We return all completed documents, including court-stamped subpoenas and signed proof of service.
