"All parties can bring witnesses (people who have first-hand knowledge of the case) to court to testify under oath at the hearing. If a witness will not agree to appear in court, the Court can issue a subpoena ordering the person to show up in court or give the Court documents that support the case. The subpoena must be served on the witness by a process server. The process server does not have to be approved by the Small Claims Clerk’s Office but must be over the age of 18 and cannot be a party to the case. The subpoena can be served in the District of Columbia or within 25 miles of the Court. All parties should bring to court, documents (contracts, receipts, promissory notes, letters, canceled checks, pictures or other written material) or other proof that relate to the case and all court documents filed in the Small Claims Clerk’s Office. A subpoena can also be issued to order a person to bring documents to court. There is no filing fee to issue a subpoena to a witness or to request documents. The subpoena should be issued well before the hearing date so there is time to serve it. Proof of service of the subpoena should be filed in the Small Claims Clerk’s Office, noting the manner of service, name of the person served and signed by the person who made the service, five business days before the court date. The proof of service is on the back of the subpoena form."