CIVIL-LAW
Foreign Litigation
May 2007
INFORMATION FOR OUT-OF-STATE ATTORNEYS ON THE
PROCEDURE TO PURSUE DISCOVERY OF A NEW JERSEY RESIDENT
FOR USE IN OUT-OF-STATE LITIGATION
(Superior Court of New Jersey - Law Division)
PURPOSE OF THIS PACKAGE
Where foreign litigation requires a non party witness’ written interrogatory answers, oral
deposition or the production of a thing or writing, and the witness, located in New Jersey, will not
voluntarily answer interrogatories, appear at an oral deposition or produce a thing or writing, the
employment of the power of New Jersey’s courts to aid foreign litigation may be requested. New
Jersey’s Court Rules provide a procedure to issue the necessary process through an ex-parte application.
A New Jersey-licensed attorney may apply to the Superior Court ex parte with a pleading
designated “A Petition Pursuant to R. 4:11-4." The petition requests that the New Jersey Superior
Court exercise its judicial power and issue the necessary process to effectuate the foreign court’s
decree concerning an out-of-state discovery. The New Jersey attorney will file the petition, a proposed
form of order and the appropriate filing fee with the Superior Court Clerk. Although not explicitly
addressed in the Court Rules, venue should be in the county where the witness resides or works. A
Commission, Letters Rogatory or other similar judicial certificate issued in the forum state must
support the petition.
This package provides information for an out-of-state attorney on New Jersey’s procedure for
directing a New Jersey resident to comply with discovery requests for use in litigation in another
state.
Note: These materials have been prepared by the New Jersey Superior Court Clerk’s
Office and the Administrative Office of the Courts. The guides, instructions, and forms will be
periodically updated as necessary to reflect current New Jersey statutes and court rules. The
most recent version of the forms will be available at the county courthouse or on the Judiciary’s
Internet site (www.njcourtsonline.com). However, you are ultimately responsible for the content
of your court papers.
Revised 5/2007, CN 10518 English Page 1
The numbered steps listed below outline the procedure for obtaining a subpoena to pursue
discovery of a New Jersey resident for use by an out-of-state attorney in use in another
jurisdiction.
STEP 1: REVIEW AND COMPLY
WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
FORUM STATE TO PURSUE
DISCOVERY OUT-OF-STATE.
Obtain a Commission or Letters
Rogatory under the seal of the appropriate
court clerk or public official authorized in the
forum state to issue such a document.
STEP 2: RETAIN A NEW JERSEY-
LICENSED ATTORNEY TO PETITION
THE SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW
JERSEY FOR AN ORDER
AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF A
SUBPOENA COMMANDING THE NEW
JERSEY RESIDENT TO ANSWER
WRITTEN INTERROGATORIES OR TO
APPEAR AT AND SUBMIT TO A
DEPOSITION.
The New Jersey attorney will file with
the Superior Court, Law Division in the county
in which the witness resides, an ex parte
petition (Form A), a proposed form of order
(Form B), and a proposed subpoena There is a
$30.00 fee which may be paid by money order
or check made payable to “Treasurer, State of
New Jersey.”
STEP 3: UPON RECEIPT OF THE
SIGNED ORDER AND SUBPOENA,
HAVE THE NEW JERSEY ATTORNEY
SERVE THE SUBPOENA OR NOTICE IN
LIEU OF SUBPOENA.
If the witness resists the subpoena or
fails to appear, then the New Jersey attorney
may defend its issuance or apply to the court
for appropriate sanctions, as the case may be.
Note: Out-of-state counsel should
consult their state’s court rules concerning the
need to serve the out-of state witness with a
notice of a deposition or a judicial subpoena
from the forum state. If required, counsel
should attach the same to the Commission,
Letters Rogatory or other judicial certificate.
The time, date and place of the deposition
should be indicated in the petition. The
location of the deposition must be in the
county where the person to be deposed lives,
works or does business.
Revised 5/2007, CN 10518 English Page 2
Sample forms for the petition and order follow. Note: The New Jersey Administrative
Office of the Courts has prepared these materials to give out-of-state attorneys insight into the
New Jersey’s procedure. Retained New Jersey counsel is ultimately responsible for the content
of the pleadings filed and, therefore, New Jersey legal counsel must tailor any pleading to the
facts, circumstances and New Jersey statutes and court rules then in effect.
REFERENCES:
Court Rule 1:5-6 Filing
Court Rule 1:9-1 Subpoenas; For Attendance of Witnesses; Forms; Issuance; Notice in Lieu
of Subpoena
Court Rule 1:9-2 For Production of Documentary Evidence; Notice in Lieu of Subpoena
Court Rule 1:9-5 Failure to Appear
Court Rule 1:9-6 Enforcement of Subpoena of Pubic Officer or Agency
Court Rule 1:21-1 Who May Practice; Appearance in Court
Court Rule 4:11-4 Testimony for Use in Foreign Jurisdictions
Court Rule 4:12-1 Persons Who May Take Depositions; Within State
Court Rule 4:14-7 Subpoena for Taking Depositions
N.J.S.A. 22A:2-7 Law Division of Superior Court, Other Fees
Revised 05/2007, CN 10518 English Page 3
FORM A
Revised 05/2007, CN 10518 English Page 1
Superior Court Of New Jersey Law Division
County
Attorney Name
Docket No.
Attorney Street Address
Town, State, Zip Code
Attorney Telephone Number
I/M/O APPLICATION FOR THE
ISSUANCE OF A SUBPOENA TO
CIVIL ACTION
EX-PARTE PETITION FOR ISSUANCE OF
SUBPOENA PURSUANT TO COURT RULE
4:11-4
Petitioner , applying for the authority to
issue a Rule 4:11-4 subpoena, hereby certifies and says:
1. I have been retained as local counsel by the firm of , in their
capacity as attorney for in an action in the State of ,
captioned , plaintiff(s), v. defendant(s), bearing
docket number .
2. A Commission was issued out of the Court of the State of ,
authorizing the [deposition on oral testimony] [deposition on written interrogatory] [a subpoena duces
tecum for the production of things or documents] of , who lives, works or
does business at , in the City/Township/Borough of , County
of , and State of New Jersey. A copy of the Commission [Letters Rogatory] is
attached to this petition as Exhibit A.
3. I submit this petition in support of my application for an Order pursuant to Rule 4:11-4
FORM A
Revised 05/2007, CN 10518 English Page 2
authorizing that a subpoena be issued to at the aforementioned address
requiring that he/she/it [give his/her/its deposition on written interrogatory] [appear at o’clock in
the noon on (date) at the office of located at , New
Jersey for taking his/her/its deposition on oral testimony] [requiring that he/she/it produce the following
things or documents] . The deposition on oral testimony shall
continue from day to day until completed.
4. [out-of-state attorney] has advised me of the following relevant
facts:
a. On or about a motion was made in the aforementioned litigation in
the State of for the appointment of a Commissioner in the State of New Jersey to
cause service of a subpoena upon and [for taking the deposition of on oral testimony]
[for taking the deposition of by written interrogatory] [ for the production of
things or documents in the possession of ].
b. On the Honorable , Judge of the
Court, signed an Order directing the undersigned be appointed Commissioner of
the above stated purpose. A copy of the Order is attached as Exhibit B.
c. The [deposition on oral testimony] [deposition on written interrogatory] [the production of
the thing or documents by] of this witness is essential to this case
because ,
.
d. No previous application has been made for the relief herein requested.
FORM A
Revised 05/2007, CN 10518 English Page 3
WHEREFORE, the petitioner respectfully requests that an Order be entered:
a. authorizing the issuance of a subpoena, in aid of foreign litigation, directing
[to appear and give oral testimony] [give answers under oath to written
interrogatories] [produce (here describe the things or documents] pursuant to the Commission issued by
the State of ; and
b. authorizing the petitioner the right to [adjourn, recess or reschedule the deposition on oral
testimony] [extend the time for answering written interrogatories] [extend the time to produce things or
documents] by consent without any further application to this court.
c. for such other relief as is just and proper.
Dated:
Signature
VERIFICATION
1. I am the petitioner in the within matter.
2. I have read the foregoing petition and on my own personal knowledge, except those facts
related to me by out-of-state counsel, I know that the facts therein are true.
I certify that the foregoing statements made by me are true. I am aware that if any of the
foregoing statements made by me are willfully false, I am subject to punishment.
Dated:
Signature
BEFORE FILING, BE SURE TO REMOVE THIS SENTENCE FROM THE DOCUMENT AS WELL AS
THE DESCRIPTIVE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED IN BRACKETS.
FORM B
Revised 05/2007, CN 10518 English Page 1
Superior Court Of New Jersey Law Division
County
Attorney Name
Docket No.
Attorney Street Address
Town, State, Zip Code
Attorney Telephone Number
I/M/O APPLICATION FOR THE
ISSUANCE OF A SUBPOENA TO
CIVIL ACTION
ORDER PURSUANT TO COURT RULE
4:11-4
This matter having come before the Court on the application of for an
Order authoring the issuance of a subpoena to , and it appearing that the
Court of the State of has issued a Commission [Letters
Rogatory] in a pending case captioned , plaintiff(s), v. ,
defendant(s), docket/case number , authorizing to [take the
deposition on oral testimony] [take the deposition on written interrogatory] [issue a subpoena duces
tecum for the production of things or documents] of who lives, resides or
does business in the City/Township/Borough of , New Jersey, and it further
appearing that good cause exists.
IT IS on this day of , 20 , ORDERED that a subpoena may issue
commanding to appear before on (date) , 20 , at
o’clock in the noon at the office of ,
located at , to [give oral testimony under oath] [provide answers under
oath to written interrogatories] [produce things or documents] in the above captioned matter; and it is
further ORDERED that the petitioner may [adjourn and reschedule the time, date and place of the
deposition by oral testimony] [extend the time for answering written interrogatories] [extent the time to
produce things or documents] by consent without any further application to this court.
J.S.C.
BEFORE FILLING, BE SURE TO REMOVE THIS SENTENCE FROM THE DOCUMENT AS WELL AS
THE DESCRIPTIVE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED IN BRACKETS.
