Legal Definitions - John Doe summons

A John Doe summons is a type of summons used when the name of the person being summoned is unknown at the time of service. It is a legal document that requires the recipient to appear in court or provide information related to a legal case.

• A John Doe summons may be used in a lawsuit where the identity of the defendant is not yet known, such as in a case of hit-and-run accident.
• In tax law, a John Doe summons may be issued by the Internal Revenue Service to a third party to provide information on an unnamed, unknown taxpayer with potential tax liability.

These examples illustrate how a John Doe summons can be used in different legal contexts when the identity of the person being summoned is not yet known.