Litigation Lawyers in Granite Falls

Civil depositions happen during civil litigation in Granite Falls, North Carolina. They are part of the discovery procedure.

"Discovery" is a procedure that happens before a trial in Granite Falls, North Carolina. During the discovery process, both sides are obligated to make relevant information available to each other.

In Granite Falls, North Carolina, one way to obtain relevant evidence is to ask people involved in the dispute (both parties and witnesses) about their knowledge of the matter. This is done through a civil deposition. It is essentially a question and answer session between a lawyer, and a witness or party to the action. A lawyer for the other side is present, as well as a court reporter or videographer. The lawyer asks questions of the person being deposed, who must answer them under oath.

Conducting A Civil Deposition in Granite Falls, North Carolina

Depositions in Granite Falls, North Carolina serve a very significant purpose: receiving testimony on the record, and admitted as evidence, when there is some reason to suspect that the witness won't be able to appear in court during trial, because of health, possible incarceration, or any other reason.

It should not be any shock, then, that civil depositions in Granite Falls, North Carolina can go on for a very long time. If you are contacted to appear in a deposition in Granite Falls, North Carolina, this can be a major headache.

To mitigate this, the law of Granite Falls, North Carolina usually entitles people being deposed to reimbursement. They can be compensated for travel expenses, lodging, and a can be given a small amount of money simply for their time. However, this is meant to be reimbursement for the time and expense incurred in attending a deposition, and it is most definitely not payment for the witness to provide testimony that's favorable to one side or the other.

Remember, when you give a deposition in Granite Falls, North Carolina, you're under oath. This means that you are under an absolute requirement to tell the truth. If you deliberately lie while under oath, you are committing perjury. Perjury is a serious crime, and can be punished by fines and imprisonment.

How Can A Granite Falls, North Carolina Lawyer Help?

If you are the plaintiff or defendant in a lawsuit, you almost definitely already have a Granite Falls, North Carolina lawyer. If either party to the lawsuit calls you for a deposition, your lawyer will have plenty of advice for you. You should, of course, follow that advice to the letter.

If you are not directly involved in the lawsuit, you might still have to appear at a deposition, if you have information that's relevant to the case in Granite Falls, North Carolina. You likely 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.