Consolidated practice directions

Service of subpoenas to produce - attachments 
 
11. When serving a subpoena to produce on the addressee, the issuing party 
must:
(a) in every case attach a copy of the notice and declaration for 
addressees, RSC Form 22A, to the front of the subpoena (O 36B 
r 10(3)); and 
(b) when the date set for production specified is not the date and time 
of a trial, attach a copy of the cover sheet in the form at PD 4.3.7.1.
12. When serving a copy of the subpoena to produce on each other party (O 
36B r 4(2)), the issuing party must, when the date set for production 
specified is not the date and time of a trial, attach a copy of the cover 
sheet in the form at PD 4.3.7.1. 
 
Altering the date for attendance or production under a subpoena 
 
13. See O 36B r 5A.
 
 
Directions in relation to the removal, inspection, copying and disposal of 
any documents and things produced under subpoenas returnable at trial
 
 
14. For subpoenas to produce that are to be returned to the Court at a trial, 
issues of inspection, copying etc can be dealt with at the trial.
Directions in relation to the removal, inspection, copying and disposal of 
any documents and things produced under subpoenas not returnable at 
trial 
 
i. 
Standard directions that apply to a subpoena not returnable at trial 
 
15. Unless directions are given, no party is able to inspect, copy or remove 
the documents and things subject to a subpoena. 
16. The directions referred to in par 15 will not be given until after the date 
and time for production specified in the subpoena, and subject to the 
issuing party confirming that a copy of the subpoena was served on each 
other party not less than 14 clear days prior to the issuing party seeking 
access to the subpoenaed material (see form at PD 4.3.7.2). 

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4. General Division - Civil 
PD 4.3.7 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
17. Subject to any other orders made by the Court, the directions for 
subpoenas to produce not returnable at trial will be in accordance with 
the standard directions set out in pars 18 - 29. 
(A) Directions in non-contentious matters not returnable at trial 
18. For the purposes of this Practice Direction, a non-contentious matter 
refers to a subpoena not returnable at trial in relation to which no 
request to the Court pursuant to O36B r 8A, either by letter or at a 
hearing, has been received prior to the date of return or prior to the 
issuing party completing and submitting form 4.3.7.2, whichever is later. 
19. (a) In a non-contentious matter, the issuing party of a subpoena that is 
not returnable at a trial may attend the Court to inspect the 
documents or things and obtain copies within 14 days of the date 
of return, or of the issuing party completing and submitting form 
4.3.7.2, whichever is later. 
(b) The other party/ies to the proceedings may attend the Court to 
inspect the documents or things and obtain copies during the 
period 15 - 28 days after the date of return or the issuing party 
completing and submitting form 4.3.7.2, whichever is later. 
(c) Subject to any application to retain the documents or things in the 
custody of the Court, as soon as practicable after the expiry of the 
period of 42 days after the return date or after the issuing party 
completed and submitted form 4.3.7.2, whichever is later, the 
documents or things are to be: 
(i) 
returned to the addressee if the addressee has declared in 
Form 22A that it includes any documents or things that are 
original; or 
(ii) 
destroyed if the addressee has declared in Form 22A that all 
documents or things are copies.

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4. General Division - Civil 
PD 4.3.7 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
(B) Contentious matters not returnable at trial 
20. For the purposes of this Practice Direction, a contentious matter refers to 
a subpoena not returnable at trial in relation to which a request to the 
Court pursuant to O36B r 8A, either by letter or at a hearing, has been 
received prior to the date of return or prior to the issuing party 
completing and submitting form 4.3.7.2, whichever is later. 
21. See pars 30 - 32. The directions will be as made by the Case Manager or 
Principal Registrar after any objection to the subpoena or request to 
make or vary directions given by the Court in relation to the removal, 
return, inspection copying and disposal of documents and things 
produced to the Court in response to a subpoena has been considered. 
(C) Uplift of documents or things 
22. No documents or things produced under subpoena will be removed 
from the Registry except upon application in writing to the Principal 
Registrar or authorised Court officer, signed by the solicitor for a party 
(see O 36B r 9(3) and the form at PD 4.3.7.3). 
23. Under O 36B r 9(5) a solicitor who signs an application under par 22 
(PD 4.3.7.3) and removes a document or thing from the Registry, 
undertakes to the Court that: 
(a) the document or thing will be kept in the personal custody of the 
solicitor or a barrister briefed by the solicitor in the proceedings; 
and 
(b) the document or thing will be returned to the Registry in the same 
condition, order and packaging in which it was removed, as and 
when directed by the Principal Registrar or authorised Court 
officer. 
24. There is no provision in the 
Rules of the Supreme Court 1971
(WA) for a 
litigant who is not legally represented to uplift documents or things 
received under subpoena. The Court will copy any documents required 
by a litigant who is not legally represented, subject to the payment of the 
usual fees pursuant to the 
Supreme Court (Fees) Regulations 2002 
(WA). 

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4. General Division - Civil 
PD 4.3.7 
Supreme Court of Western Australia 
Consolidated Practice Direction
25. An authorised Court officer may only grant an application under par 22 
where: 
(a) no order or direction has been made limiting access to the items 
received; 
(b) the solicitor undertakes to return the documents in 48 hours; and 
(c) the Registry has received no objection or request to vary directions 
in relation to the items subject to the application for uplift. 
26. If any of the circumstances in par 25(a)-(c) do not apply, the application 
will be referred to the Case Manager or a Registrar, who may grant the 
application subject to conditions or refuse the grant of the application.