What is the purpose of a deposition?

A deposition is an important procedural tool in civil court cases in Arizona. A deposition involves an attorney asking questions of a witness—generally, a party to the case or someone with knowledge of the case and facts—in order to get information that can be used in the case. The witness is placed under oath, so the statements they make during the deposition are legally binding. The purpose of a deposition is to gather facts and learn more information about the case. By questioning the witness, attorneys get to hear the witness’s side of the story and can assess the credibility of their testimony. The answers to the questions can be used by attorneys to gain an advantage in the case. In addition, a deposition is a form of discovery, which means it can provide an opportunity for an attorney to review documents and question witnesses before a trial. This type of preparation gives the attorney a better chance to build a stronger legal case. Finally, the transcript of the deposition can be used later during a trial, including the witness’s statements and the attorney’s questions. This helps at trial because it gives the attorney and the judge a better understanding of what evidence was available. In some cases, the deposition transcript can be used to impeach a witness if they give different testimony at trial.

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