Virginia Deposition Rule

Rule 4:5 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia: Depositions Upon Oral Examination

  • Party Depositions. A deposition of a party … shall be taken in the county or city in which suit is pending, in an adjacent county or city, at a place upon which the parties agree, or at a place that the court in such suit may, for good cause designate. Good cause may include the expense or inconvenience of a non-resident party defendant appearing in one of the locations specified in this subsection
  • Non-party Witness Depositions. Unless otherwise provided by the law of the jurisdiction where a non-party witness resides, a deposition of a non-party witness shall be taken in the county or city where the non-party witness resides, is employed, or has a principal place of business
  • Taking Depositions Outside the State. Within another state … depositions may be taken (1) on notice before a person authorized to administer oaths in the place in which the examination is held … or (2) before a person appointed or commissioned by the court in which the action is pending … or (3) pursuant to a letter rogatory … Witnesses may be compelled to appear and testify at depositions taken outside this state by process issued and served in accordance with the law of the jurisdiction where the deposition is taken … Upon motion, the courts of this State shall issue a commission or letter rogatory requesting the assistance of the courts or authorities of the foreign jurisdiction.
  • Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act. Depositions and related documentary production sought in Virginia pursuant to a subpoena issued under the authority of a foreign jurisdiction shall be subject to the provisions of the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act
  • A party desiring to take the deposition of any person upon oral examination shall give reasonable notice in writing to every other party to the action. The notice shall state the time and place for taking the deposition and the name and address of each person to be examined, if known, and, if the name is not known, a general description sufficient to identify him or the particular class or group to which he belongs.
  • Leave of court is not required for the taking of a deposition by plaintiff if the notice (A) states that the person to be examined is about to go out of the Commonwealth, or is about to go out of the United States, or is bound on a voyage to sea, and will be unavailable for examination unless his deposition is taken before expiration of the period for filing a responsive pleading.
  • If a party shows that when he was service under this subdivision (b)(2) he was unable through the exercise of diligence to obtain counsel to represent him at the taking of the deposition, the deposition may not be used against him.
Follow me
Latest posts by Corey Pollard (see all)