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Summons
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Also called:
Citation
Related Topics:
writ
civil procedure
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Summons

law
Also known as: citation
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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•History

Summons, in law, document issued by a court ordering a specific person to appear at a specific time for some specific purpose. It is issued either directly to the person or to a law officer who must carry out the instructions. Often the purpose of a citation or summons is to require a person to answer charges or a complaint filed against him. It may also be used simply to notify a person that he has an interest in the proceedings at hand, which it would be to his advantage to attend.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica