Litigation Lawyers in Hamlet

Civil depositions occur during civil litigation in Hamlet, North Carolina. They are part of the discovery process.

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

In Hamlet, North Carolina, one way to acquire relevant evidence is to ask persons 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 Hamlet, North Carolina

Depositions in Hamlet, North Carolina serve a very important purpose: getting 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, potential incarceration, or any other reason.

It should not be any surprise, then, that civil depositions in Hamlet, North Carolina can go on for a very long time. If you are called to appear in a deposition in Hamlet, North Carolina, this can be a huge headache.

Therefore, Hamlet, North Carolina's civil procedure rules permit a person to be compensated for the time and money they spend in appearing at a deposition. If the witness lives far away from the location of the deposition, as is sometimes the case in large trials, they can be reimbursed for travel and lodging expenses, and compensated for their time. However, this money cannot be used to influence HOW they testify, just to mitigate the inconvenience associated with testifying.

Remember, when you give a deposition in Hamlet, North Carolina, you're under oath. This means that you are under an absolute obligation 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 Hamlet, North Carolina Lawyer Help?

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

If you are not directly engaged in the lawsuit, you might still have to appear at a deposition, if you have information that's relevant to the case in Hamlet, North Carolina. 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.