In Surrogate's Court practice, which document is commonly used to compel attendance or testimony?

• A. Citation
• B. Subpoena
• C. Order to Show Cause
• D. Writ

Answer: (B)

Subpoenas are the tool designed to force someone to come to court and testify, and they can also require the production of documents. In Surrogate’s Court practice, you use a subpoena to compel a witness to appear at a hearing about the estate, to testify under oath, and to bring any requested records. The subpoena has the force of a court order, so noncompliance can expose the witness to sanctions.

This is why the subpoena is the best answer here: it directly serves the purpose of compelling attendance or testimony, whereas the other documents serve different functions. A citation is typically used to bring someone before the court for a specific matter or to notify them of proceedings, an order to show cause is for urgent relief or to compel action, and a writ is a broader court command used in other contexts. For securing testimony or documents in a Surrogate’s Court matter, the subpoena is the standard instrument.