4 Things to Expect in a Deposition

This post was most recently updated on September 18th, 2023

You may be in a situation where you need to give a deposition. You might be a nervous wreck because you don’t know who will be there and what will happen in this process. It’s important to have your testimony right before you give your deposition. Here are some things to expect.

What is a Deposition?

It’s an out-of-court meeting to take your testimony under the penalty of perjury where you tell the events of something that may come to trial. Tell it from your perspective so that the key people there hear your voice.

It may be called Examination Before Trial or Examination for Discovery in Canada. You may want to hire someone from 4 Corners Depo to help you during the discovery process. This way, you’ll have a better understanding of what you can do as a defendant.

What Happens When You Go to a Deposition?

First, you’ll sit down with the lawyer to give your sworn testimony. There will be numerous people there with different roles:

People involved with the case
The court reporter who administers oaths
A videographer to record everything from a visual perspective
The lawyer can ask you a series of questions
Lawyers on both sides review your statement

It’s a time where they figure out if the information presented is enough to take it to trial or create a settlement. Remember, each state has its guidelines about how they do a deposition and what constitutes a case.

Length of the Deposition

Depending on the situation, the deposition can last seven hours. Know your state’s time limit before going to it. Also, a lawyer has to request another day to finish questioning if it goes over the time limit.

Be prepared for it to last the whole day and speak with a lawyer if they need documentation from emails, messages, and receipts if they use your testimony for legal action.

What Questions to Expect?

In a deposition, they may ask general things from your job duties, what you did or saw, and even the food you ate that day.

Also, they want to see if you have any history with the client. Take your time when you answer and don’t forget to breathe. It’ll help you think things clearly. Lawyers may test your emotions and ask you specific questions that could lead to saying something you don’t mean.

Speak to an attorney who knows the depth of depositions and can help guide you in a better direction for a settlement or a trial.

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