Why You Can’t Serve a Subpoena Directly in Another State

Subpoenas are only enforceable in the state in which they’re issued. If your target witness or business is located in a different state, your court has no jurisdiction to enforce that subpoena. To compel compliance, you must domesticate it in the discovery state.

Understanding UIDDA (Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act)

UIDDA is a powerful tool for attorneys—it streamlines the process of subpoenaing documents or depositions across state lines. When both the issuing and discovery states have adopted UIDDA, you can submit your subpoena to the local court in the discovery state without the need for:

• A motion
• A hearing
• Local counsel (in most cases)

This saves time, reduces costs, and eliminates unnecessary court procedures. However, UIDDA must be adopted by the discovery state for this simplified method to apply.

Step-by-Step: How to Domesticate a Subpoena Nationwide

1. Obtain Your Out-of-State Subpoena
   Secure a file-stamped subpoena issued from the originating court.
2. Prepare the Discovery State’s Required Forms
   Countrywide Process will provide your attorney with the required state-specific subpoena forms. Once your attorney completes them, we review for accuracy.
3. File with the Local Court Clerk
   In UIDDA states, your attorney submits the originating subpoena and local form to the clerk. Countrywide Process facilitates this filing on your behalf.
4. Issuance of Local Subpoena
   The court clerk reissues a local subpoena under the discovery state’s laws.
5. Serve the Subpoena
   Using licensed process servers, Countrywide Process serves the local subpoena per the rules of the discovery state.

Subpoenas You Can Domesticate Under UIDDA

• Deposition subpoenas (oral or remote)
• Subpoenas duces tecum (documents)
• Business record subpoenas
• 30(b)(6) subpoenas for corporate reps

What Happens in Non-UIDDA States?

In states that haven’t adopted UIDDA, attorneys will usually need:

• Local counsel
• A court motion
• A hearing for subpoena approval

This increases both time and cost. But with Countrywide Process, we’ll help your team navigate it all.

Non-UIDDA States (as of July 2025):

• Massachusetts
• Missouri
• New Hampshire
• Oklahoma
• Texas

UIDDA-Compliant States List (as of July, 2025)

These states allow streamlined domestication of out-of-state subpoenas:

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Avoid Common Pitfalls When Serving Across State Lines

• Sending your state’s subpoena directly across borders
• Forgetting to check UIDDA status
• Using incorrect forms or wrong court
• Missing filing or service deadlines

How Countrywide Process Helps Attorneys Nationwide

At Countrywide Process, LLC, we specialize in making subpoena domestication simple and compliant:

• Provide the correct subpoena forms for your attorney to complete
• Review forms for accuracy and compliance
• File with the local court
• Facilitate service with professional process servers
• Return stamped subpoenas and Proof of Service

Ready to Domesticate a Subpoena Nationwide?

Start today with the team that’s handled thousands of cross-border subpoenas.

Use Our Subpoena Domestication Portal
Or call us at (888) 962-9696 for personalized help.

Let Countrywide Process simplify your next multi-jurisdictional discovery subpoena today.