A subpoena is a legal document that when served directs a person to appear in court. The subpoena will state the day, the time, and the place the person should appear. And, it will also state why the person is being ordered to appear in court. A subpoena might be issued in order to have a person provide testimony in a case or produce documents. Subpoenas can be issued by courts, grand juries, legislative bodies, and governmental agencies to require a person to appear and give their testimony. Failure to appear before the court or other legislative bodies after receiving a subpoena can have dire consequences. The person who fails to appear can be charged with contempt of court with the option of jail time and fines. States determine how subpoenas are to be served. In some states a subpoena must be served in person by a sheriff's deputy or process server. In other states subpoenas can be served through the postal system