Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

duces tecum

Legal Term

/ˈdjuː.sɪz ˈtiː.kəm/

Definition

A type of subpoena that requires a person to produce documents or records for a court proceeding.

Examples

The attorney issued a duces tecum to obtain the necessary financial records for the trial.
When served with a duces tecum, the witness was required to bring all related documents to court.
In his defense, he argued that the duces tecum was overly broad and requested that certain documents be exempted.

Meaning

The term ‘duces tecum’ is derived from Latin, meaning ‘you shall bring with you.’ It is often used in legal contexts to compel the attendance of a witness along with specific documents or evidence relevant to a case.