45.02 For production of documentary evidence

If someone sends you a subpoena asking for documents, papers, or other physical items, you have the right to push back if the request is unfair. You need to file your objection quickly, either before the deadline listed in the subpoena or right around that time. Waiting too long could mean you lose this option.

The judge has two main choices when you raise this objection. First, the judge can cancel the subpoena entirely or change its terms if the request is too broad, too demanding, or unreasonably burdensome. Second, if the judge decides the subpoena should still stand, the judge can require the person who requested the documents to pay the reasonable costs of gathering and producing them.

This rule protects people from being forced to spend huge amounts of time or money responding to document requests just because someone else wants information from them. It gives you a way to ask the court for relief if a subpoena feels excessive, and it makes sure that if you do have to comply, you are not stuck covering all the costs yourself when the request was already found to be a heavy burden.