Litigation Lawyers in Lake St. Louis

Civil depositions occur during civil litigation in Lake St. Louis, Missouri. They are part of the discovery process.

In Lake St. Louis, Missouri, "discovery" is a process that occurs before a civil trial, during which both sides are required to disclose relevant evidence to the other.

One way to get this information in Lake St. Louis, Missouri is to simply sit down with someone involved in the dispute, or with knowledge of some of the issues, and ask them questions. This can be done through a civil deposition, which is basically a Q&A session between a lawyer, and the person being deposed. A lawyer for the other side will also be present. The person being deposed is answering their questions under oath, just as if they were testifying in court. Because of this, it's important to get their statements on the record. For that purpose, a court reporter or videographer will be present.

Conducting A Civil Deposition in Lake St. Louis, Missouri

If the parties believe that a witness in Lake St. Louis, Missouri won't be able to show up in court to testify during trial, because of age, poor health, upcoming military deployment, potential incarceration, or any other reason, a deposition is a very good way to get their testimony on the record before the trial. Furthermore, if they have to be questioned for several days, it is a good way to save the court's time.

So, it shouldn't be shocking that civil depositions in Lake St. Louis, Missouri can usually go on for several days. If you are subpoenaed for a deposition in , Missouri, you are normally obligated to appear. This can be a source of some inconvenience.

To help mitigate this inconvenience, Lake St. Louis, Missouri authorizes witnesses who are appearing in depositions to be paid a set amount of money for their time, and reimbursed for travel expenses. However, if there is any evidence that this money is being used to influence a witness' testimony, there is going to be a serious problem: this would amount bribery, and it is a serious offense.

If you are being deposed in Lake St. Louis, Missouri you absolutely must answer all the questions truthfully and completely, to the best of your knowledge. You are under oath, and if you lie, and are caught, you could be charged with perjury, which can carry jail time.

How Can A Lake St. Louis, Missouri Lawyer Help?

If you are a party to a lawsuit, and are called to a deposition, chances are you're already represented by a , Missouri attorney. Obviously, you should follow their advice with respect to the deposition.

If you are not directly immersed in the lawsuit, you might still have to appear at a deposition, if you have information that's relevant to the case in Lake St. Louis, Missouri. You probably don't need to hire a lawyer in that case, but it might be a good idea to at least get a consultation from one.