California · Military and Veterans Code - MVC

MVC §462: A witness not appearing in obedience to a subpena when served personally with a copy thereof, and not having sufficient excuse, or a witness refusing to obey any lawful order of the court, shall forfe

What this law says, in plain English

A witness who fails to appear after being served a subpoena without valid excuse, or who refuses to obey a lawful court order, faces forfeiture penalties.

Read the full statutory text

A witness not appearing in obedience to a subpena when served personally with a copy thereof, and not having sufficient excuse, or a witness refusing to obey any lawful order of the court, shall forfeit to the State the sum of twenty-five dollars. The president of each court, or summary court officer, shall, from time to time, report to the senior Judge Advocate on the State staff the names of all such delinquent witnesses, together with the names and places of residence of the persons serving such subpenas. A Judge Advocate may sue for and recover such penalties in the name of the people of the State.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

Start your matter free Ask Law Link about this code

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.