If someone is trying to serve U with a subpoena, and is unable to, can a court proceeding still hold U responsible for anything?

Subpoenas are for 3rd party witnesses, not for those accused of crimes. if you're being accused of a crime, you need to hire a criminal defense lawyer ASAP. Disclaimer: Please note that this answer does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied on, since each state has different laws, each situation is fact specific, and it is impossible to evaluate a legal problem without a comprehensive consultation and review of all the facts and documents at issue. This answer does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Subpoenas are for 3rd party witnesses, not for those accused of crimes. if you're being accused of a crime, you need to hire a criminal defense lawyer ASAP. Disclaimer: Please note that this answer does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied on, since each state has different laws, each situation is fact specific, and it is impossible to evaluate a legal problem without a comprehensive consultation and review of all the facts and documents at issue. This answer does not create an attorney-client relationship.

As the other attorney noted, criminal defendants do not get subpoenas. They get arrested/charged with a criminal complaint and the case proceeds from there. In criminal cases, subpoenas are served on witnesses in order to get them to court. Defendants, on the other hand, are hauled into court by police, if necessary, and put into jail pending trial if they don't come to court on their own. The state has a lot of power in dealing with criminal defendants. Civil cases are different. It is quite possible, in a fraud case, that the victim could be trying to go after the perpetrator in both criminal courts and civil courts. While it may be possible to duck a subpoena, most plaintiffs pay the service agency to keep trying. How long are you willing to run and hide? How long are you going to be willing to sneak out of your house at odd hours? You might want to post this question in the civil litigation section of . I haven't been involved on the civil side for many years. Ask if a civil case can go forward if the defendant avoids being served. DISCLAIMER: This answer to a short simplified question is provided solely for general informational purposes only and is not intended to provide the specific legal advice you might need to decide your future actions. It is intended to provide you, and others with similar issues, a general, common-sense idea of the situation. Please consult with a local attorney to evaluate your particular case in the depth it deserves. This answer does not constitute legal advice, create an attorney-client relationship, or constitute attorney advertising.

A criminal action can be initiated by an arrest, a citation or a simple notice to appear from the DA's office (which you can ignore but then you get arrested). A civil suit must be started withe the service of a summons and complaint which is what I think you meant. If you haven't been served with these documents in a civil court it has no power over you.

You mean summons or subpoena? If you're talking about a summons, they'll serve you by publication. If subpoena then no. Edward J. Blum