

Divorce Depositions in California – What to Expect
Divorce depositions are helpful if the lawyer doing it is prepared and experienced. Also, depositions can be done if the lawyer is not doing it just because it will give him the chance to make personal financial gains in terms of fees. But lawyers need to focus on issues that matter and not waste the court’s time.
Types of deposition
There are 2 types of deposition – party and witness.
- Party deposition – The petitioner or the respondent in the divorce case is the party. A party deposition is just ‘noticed’ by one lawyer to the other with a formal written request. It may request certain documents to be produced during the deposition.
- Witness deposition – A witness may be ‘noticed’ to appear in the deposition and provide proof or documents during the deposition. They are served a ‘deposition subpoena’.
What to expect
It is a good idea to be present during a deposition. You can and should help your lawyer during the preparation of the deposition. You would be the best person to provide your lawyer with answers or important bits of information on issues that get raised during a deposition. You will be able to determine if your spouse is lying about certain things or not.
If you are the one who the deposition is being carried out, you will have to be prepared to answer a lot of questions by the opponent lawyer. You should do your preparation well. You will be under oath so the obvious piece of advice would be, ‘be absolutely honest’. Everything you say will be recorded by the court reporter. You will get breaks where you can consult with your lawyer.
Getting divorced in California can be complicated. Download our free eBook, 18 Important Things to Know About California Divorce to educate yourself on the process.


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