Litigation Lawyers in Beckley

Civil depositions occur during Beckley, West Virginia civil litigation, as part of the discovery process.

"Discovery" is a process that occurs before a trial in Beckley, West Virginia. During the discovery process, both sides are required to make relevant information available to each other.

In Beckley, West Virginia, one way to get this information is to find the people involved in the dispute (whether they're witnesses or parties), and ask them questions about the issues you believe them to have knowledge of. A civil deposition is usually a pretty simple process: the person being deposed is sworn in (they are under oath, just as if they were in a courtroom). Because the whole point of a deposition is to get testimony on the record, a stenographer or video technician will also be present, recording the whole deposition. The lawyer then asks questions of the witness, and the lawyers for the other side are able to object to certain lines of questioning, if they wish.

Conducting A Civil Deposition in Beckley, West Virginia

Depositions in Beckley, West Virginia are meant to get verbal testimony on the record and into evidence, when there is concern that the person being deposed might be unable to show up and testify at trial, or their testimony will take far too long for them to testify at trial.

Civil Depositions in Beckley, West Virginia can sometimes go on for days, and occasionally even weeks. If you are required to appear for a deposition in Beckley, West Virginia, it can prove to be a significant inconvenience.

To help deal with this fact, Beckley, West Virginia allows witnesses who are being deposed to be compensated for their time. They can be reimbursed for lodging, travel expenses, and given a small amount of money for their time. Remember, however, that this money is most definitely NOT conditioned on the witness giving testimony that's favorable to one side, and omitting information that's unfavorable. This would be bribery, and it is highly illegal.

When giving a deposition in Beckley, West Virginia, be sure to answer all of the questions honestly, and to the absolute best of your knowledge. You will be sworn in before the deposition begins, and you will be under oath, just as if you were in open court. So, if you lie, you are committing perjury, which can land you in jail.

How Can A Beckley, West Virginia Lawyer Help?

If you're a party to a Beckley, West Virginia lawsuit and are required to appear at a deposition, one would hope that you've already retained a lawyer by this stage in the proceedings. Your attorney will have a lot of advice for you, which you should of course follow.

If you are not a party to the case, but are subpoenaed to testify in a deposition, you should at least consult with a Beckley, West Virginia attorney, who can advise you on how to proceed.