If served with a witness summons, what must a witness do?

• A. Ignore it.
• B. Attend as required.
• C. Ask for a delay.
• D. Provide a written statement in advance.

Answer: (B)

When you’re served with a witness summons, the court is ordering you to attend and give evidence at the specified time and place. You must comply by attending as required and bringing any documents you’ve been asked to produce. Ignoring the summons can lead to contempt of court, with serious penalties. If the date causes a genuine problem, you should apply to the court for an adjournment or a variation of the order before the hearing, rather than simply not turning up. Providing a written statement in advance isn’t the default expectation of a witness summons—the usual expectation is oral testimony in court, unless the court allows or requires a written statement instead.