Need To Give A Deposition? Follow These Tips

Have you been required to give a deposition for a legal matter? If so, it is not something you should take lightly. You will be questioned about many issues during this part of the court case's discovery process, and it gives everyone involved an opportunity to learn more about the case. Here are some tips that can help you with giving a deposition.

Prepare With A Lawyer In Advance

It is always a good idea to meet with an attorney to prepare for what the actual deposition will be like. There are many things they will go over with you to ensure that you are prepared for the deposition. This includes letting you know how long you can expect the deposition to last, and who to expect in the room at the time.

In addition, the lawyer will also go over other important things, such as if you can object to giving an answer to a question if you do not feel comfortable, and what response you should say if you do not know the answer.

Practice The Length of Your Answers

You will want to avoid giving too much info during a deposition if it can be done. A deposition does involve talking to the lawyers from the other party, so everything you say during the deposition could be used in the courtroom.

If the nature of the question allows for a one-word response such as yes or no, you should only respond with that answer. If you need to elaborate on any answer, one of the lawyers will ask you to.

The reason for this is that you want to avoid accidentally saying something that is not true. If you give a long and rambling answer, there is a greater chance that you could misspeak and say something incorrect. Once the words come out of your mouth, they can be used as evidence.

Always Tell The Truth

Depositions are recorded, and the entire deposition can be used for the court case. Opposing lawyers will be picking apart every word that you say, and if you are found to be lying about anything that you said, it could call your entire deposition into question. It goes without saying, but always tell the truth so that your deposition is strong. The lawyer will also go over the consequences of lying under oath so that you are aware of what could happen.

Your lawyer can provide you with more advice for giving a deposition specific to the court case it is for.