Litigation Lawyers in Grafton

Civil depositions occur during Grafton, West Virginia civil litigation, as part of the discovery process.

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

In Grafton, West Virginia, one way to acquire this information is to find the people involved in the dispute (whether they're witnesses or parties), and ask them questions about the issues you believe them to have knowledge of. A civil deposition is typically a pretty simple process: the person being deposed is sworn in (they are under oath, just as if they were in a courtroom). Because the whole point of a deposition is to get testimony on the record, a stenographer or video technician will also be present, recording the whole deposition. The lawyer then asks questions of the witness, and the lawyers for the other side are able to object to specific lines of questioning, if they wish.

Conducting A Civil Deposition in Grafton, West Virginia

If the parties believe that a witness in Grafton, West Virginia 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. Additionally, if they have to be questioned for several days, it is a good way to save the court's time.

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

To help deal with this fact, Grafton, West Virginia allows witnesses who are being deposed to be compensated for their time. They can be reimbursed for lodging, travel expenses, and given a small amount of money for their time. Remember, however, that this money is most definitely NOT conditioned on the witness giving testimony that's advantageous to one side, and omitting information that's unfavorable. This would be bribery, and it is highly illegal.

If you are called to a deposition in Grafton, West Virginia, it's absolutely imperative 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 Grafton, West Virginia Lawyer Help?

If you are the plaintiff or defendant in a lawsuit, you almost certainly already have a Grafton, West Virginia 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're not a party to the case, but have relevant information, you might be subpoenaed to appear in a deposition. In this case, you probably don't need to hire a Grafton, West Virginia litigation attorney, but it would not be a bad idea to seek out a brief consultation with one, to get an idea of what to expect.