Deponent

What deponent means

In practice, you will see deponent in pleadings, motions, orders and court rules. The definition above explains the general meaning. Even so, the meaning can shift with context. Therefore, always read it alongside the rule or document where it appears.

Where deponent comes up

For example, the term appears in these procedures:

• Depositions (Fed. R. Civ. P. 30): questioning of a witness under oath, outside court, with a record made of the testimony.

How to research the term

Start with the primary source. For example, if deponent appears in a federal rule, read the rule itself and its official notes. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing orders from the judge. In addition, search recent decisions from your own state or federal district. They show how courts read deponent in practice. Because state rules often differ, our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. Above all, make sure the version you read is still in force.

You can read the official rule text online for free.

Related legal terms

• Discovery: the pretrial process in which parties obtain information and evidence from each other and from nonparties.
• Deposition: out-of-court testimony given under oath and recorded, usually in question-and-answer form.
• Deficiency judgment: a judgment for the amount still owed after a foreclosure sale brings less than the debt, where state law allows one.
• Demurrer: in California and some other states, a pleading that challenges the legal sufficiency of a complaint, similar to a federal motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim.
• Directed verdict: an older term for what federal courts now call judgment as a matter of law.

Why precise terms matter

Courts read legal terms closely. As a result, knowing the exact meaning of a word helps you follow orders, rules and filings. Each glossary entry on Lawtopolis is short on purpose and links to the pages where the term is used.