Process Servers: What You Should Know
The purpose of this FAQ is to provide information on service of process at UC Santa Cruz for Deposition Subpoena (non-party) for Business Records, Subpoena Duces Tecum, Authorization/Consent to Release Records, etc. Any questions regarding the propriety of a subpoena or the disclosure of documents requested therein should be directed to Information Practices (831) 459-4003.
- Where should subpoenas be served?
- During what hours can subpoenas be served?
- To whom should the subpoena be addressed?
- How should the production date be determined?
- What are Witness fees associated with serving a subpoena?
- Special requirements for subpoenas requesting medical or mental health records
Where should subpoenas be served?
The process server is directed to serve third-party record requests such as subpoenas to UCSC’s Custodian of Records located at the Chancellor's Office for response on behalf of the campus. Note that UCSC does not accept service of process via regular U.S. mail, fax, or email.
If a subpoena is only requesting Registrar records (e.g. transcripts), the Registrar has been delegated responsibility to respond to their department's subpoenaed university records and service of process may be directed to the Registrar's office, 190 Hahn Student Services Building, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064.
Subpoenas requesting a police officer personal appearance may be served directly to the UCSC Police Department at the Emergency Response Center on Carriage House Road near the main campus entrance.
A subpoena for a named individual can be served directly on the individual. For assistance in locating a named individual on campus, please consult the online directory for individual office locations. If the named individual is unavailable, a "person obviously in charge" may accept service of process.
During what hours can subpoenas be served?
Service of Process will be available Monday - Friday, 9AM-Noon and 1-4 PM.
(Click here for a list of holiday campus closure dates)
To whom should the subpoena be addressed?
University of California, Santa Cruz, Custodian of Records
How should the production date be determined for civil subpoenas?
The University is allowed 15 business days from date of service to respond to subpoenas for records in connection to a civil matter; therefore, complete your subpoena accordingly.
What are Witness fees associated with serving a subpoena?
When serving, include a deposit of $60.00 by check or money order made payable to "UC Regents". The University will provide copies of records, if any, and charge for document copies and reasonable clerical costs in accordance with CA Evidence Code section 1563 et seq. UCSC will submit an itemized invoice when notifying that records are available for pick-up and expects any balance to be paid in full at the time of pick-up.
Special requirements for subpoenas requesting medical or mental health records:
- A "wet" signature is required on subpoenas or authorizations requesting medical or mental health records; an /s/ signature will not be accepted.
- For medical records requests, the University requires documentation that physical condition is at issue. Examples include:
- providing a copy of the complaint articulating the subject is a party to the suit and has tendered an issue concerning physical condition
- an authorization/consent to release medical records voluntarily signed by the subject.
- For mental health records, an authorization/consent to release will likely be required. Only records relating to those matters directly relevant to the nature of the specific emotional or mental condition which the patient has voluntarily disclosed and tendered in pleadings or in an answer to discovery inquiries will be disclosed.
- If an Authorization/Consent to Release Records is being served for student health records only, direct service of process to the Student Health Center, located on McLaughlin Drive, across the street from Colleges 9 & 10.
(rev. Dec. 2020)
