I received a summons from the Prosecutor’s Office in Guanajuato: what to do before attending

First: verify, do not guess

Review the authority, unit, investigation-file number, date, time, address, signatory and the capacity in which you are summoned. Confirm authenticity through official channels; do not provide personal information to a number in a questionable message before verifying it.

Being summoned as a witness, victim, investigated person or for a specific act has different consequences. If the document is unclear, that ambiguity should be resolved before deciding how to appear.

Do not prepare a story: preserve facts and documents

Do not coordinate accounts with others, delete messages, alter files or create retroactive explanations. Preserve communications, receipts, locations, documents and information about persons who may know the facts.

A criminal interview is not an informal conversation. What you say may guide later investigative acts. The rights to an adequate defense and against self-incrimination must be analyzed against the actual facts.

• Keep the summons and evidence of how it was received.
• Prepare a private chronology based on documents.
• Do not publish the matter or confront other persons.
• Seek advice before producing phones, bank statements or files.

Can the date be changed?

A change may be requested for a legitimate reason, but the request alone should not be assumed to suspend the appearance. Communication should be documented and confirmed by the competent authority.

If the date is imminent, there is a risk of detention or the summons accompanies a search, seizure or other measure, urgent review is required.

What should a lawyer do before accompanying you?

Counsel should review the document, verify your legal status, identify risks and explain the options. Where legally possible, counsel should also locate the investigative file and define the purpose of the proceeding. Attendance without preparation merely changes who witnesses the improvisation.

The information above is general and does not replace analysis of a specific summons.