Litigation Lawyers in Mount Holly

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

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

In Mount Holly, North Carolina, one way to get relevant evidence is to ask individuals 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 Mount Holly, North Carolina

If the parties believe that a witness in Mount Holly, North Carolina 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.

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

To help mitigate this inconvenience, Mount Holly, North Carolina 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 called to a deposition in Mount Holly, North Carolina, it's absolutely necessary that you answer all the questions truthfully, to the best of your knowledge. When testifying in a deposition, you are under oath, just as you would be in open court. Deliberately lying in a deposition is perjury, which is a serious crime.

How Can A Mount Holly, North Carolina Lawyer Help?

If you are directly immersed in a lawsuit in Mount Holly, North Carolina, and have to appear at a deposition, you should already be represented by a lawyer. It goes without saying that you should do whatever they advise you to do during the deposition.

If, on the other hand, you're not directly immersed in the case, but have been subpoenaed to appear in a deposition as a witness in Mount Holly, North Carolina, you may not need to hire a lawyer. The lawyers for both sides will probably prep you for the deposition, giving you an idea of what to expect.