Litigation Lawyers in New Bern

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

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

In New Bern, 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 New Bern, North Carolina

If the parties believe that a witness in New Bern, 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. Also, 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 New Bern, North Carolina can go on for a very long time. If you are called to appear in a deposition in New Bern, North Carolina, this can be a major headache.

To help mitigate this inconvenience, New Bern, North Carolina allows 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.

When giving a deposition in New Bern, North Carolina, be sure to answer all of the questions honestly, and to the absolute best of your knowledge. You will be sworn in before the deposition begins, and you will be under oath, just as if you were in open court. So, if you lie, you are committing perjury, which can land you in jail.

How Can A New Bern, North Carolina Lawyer Help?

If you're a party to a New Bern, North Carolina lawsuit and are required to appear at a deposition, one would hope that you've already retained a lawyer by this stage in the proceedings. Your attorney will have a lot of advice for you, which you should of course follow.

If you are not a party to the case, but are subpoenaed to testify in a deposition, you should at least consult with a New Bern, North Carolina attorney, who can advise you on how to proceed.