Litigation Lawyers in Rio Rancho

Civil depositions occur during civil litigation in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. They are part of the discovery process.

Discovery, in Rio Rancho, New Mexico is a very crucial step in the civil litigation process. It is when all of the relevant evidence is gathered by both sides, and, generally, each side must disclose that evidence to the other.

One way to acquire this information in Rio Rancho, New Mexico 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 Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Depositions in Rio Rancho, New Mexico are meant to get verbal testimony on the record and into evidence, when there is concern that the person being deposed might be unable to show up and testify at trial, or their testimony will take far too long for them to testify at trial.

Civil Depositions in Rio Rancho, New Mexico can sometimes go on for days, and occasionally even weeks. If you are required to appear for a deposition in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, it can prove to be a substantial inconvenience.

Therefore, Rio Rancho, New Mexico'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.

When giving a deposition in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, 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. Thus, if you lie, you are committing perjury, which can land you in jail.

How Can A Rio Rancho, New Mexico Lawyer Help?

If you are directly engaged in a lawsuit in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, 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 you are not a party to the case, but are subpoenaed to testify in a deposition, you should at least consult with a Rio Rancho, New Mexico attorney, who can advise you on how to proceed.