Litigation Lawyers in Richmond

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

In Richmond, 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 acquire this information in Richmond, 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 Richmond, Missouri

Depositions are typically conducted in Richmond, Missouri if a person's testimony will take several days, or more, to deliver. By doing this before a trial, the jury can be presented just with the testimony that turns out to be relevant, saving everybody a good deal of time. It is also useful if there is any reason to suspect that the witness will be unable to show up in court.

Richmond, Missouri civil depositions can go on for a long time - occasionally going for a week or more. If you get subpoenaed to give your testimony in a Richmond, Missouri civil deposition, this could prove to be incredibly inconvenient.

To help deal with this fact, Richmond, Missouri 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 advantageous to one side, and omitting information that's unfavorable. This would be bribery, and it is highly illegal.

In Richmond, Missouri depositions, everyone being deposed is under oath. This means that you are legally and morally obligated to answer every question truthfully. If you deliberately misrepresent your knowledge (lie), you are guilty of perjury. And if you're caught, you could end up facing jail time and/or some very steep fines.

How Can A Richmond, 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're not a party to a lawsuit in Richmond, Missouri, but have knowledge about some of the facts that are at issue in a pending case, you might still be called to appear in a deposition. In that case, you probably don't need to hire a lawyer.