Discovery is a variety of processes which are designed to accomplish exactly what the word implies: to discover additional information or factual data. The scope of discovery is very broad. Simply stated, the rule is that you can ask for everything which is relevant “or may lead to relevant information.” There are various types of discovery. Some of the most common are:

• Interrogatories – Interrogatories are written questions which you submit to your spouse which must be answered in writing and under oath. There is a tendency to ask broad, all-encompassing questions, in order to avoid the risk that something may be overlooked. However, many times such an approach to discovery is ineffective and unproductive. On the contrary, carefully phrased, very specific questions are more likely to produce specific responses which will be helpful to you and your attorney.
• Notice to Produce Documents – Notice to Produce Documents requires your spouse to produce any documents which are relevant to the case and which are either in their possession or subject to their control such as employment records, bank or brokerage accounts which are in their name, or pension and IRA account statements.
• Oral Depositions – In some states, this proceeding is called an Examination Before Trial. That is exactly what it is. It is your attorney’s opportunity to examine or to take testimony from your spouse or any other witness before trial. They are placed under oath so that all of their answers are “sworn testimony.” The proceeding is in the presence of a Court Reporter who records the questions and answers verbatim. The questions and answers of your spouse are evidential and can be submitted directly into evidence at the time of trial. For other witnesses, they can be very valuable tools to confront and contradict statements made at the time of trial.
• Appraisals – Appraisals are regularly conducted to determine or verify the value of a specific asset for the purpose of dividing the same incident to equitable distribution. Experts are retained and utilized for this purpose. Assets that are often subject to appraisal incident to a divorce include real estate, businesses, pensions, jewelry, artwork, and vehicles.

Very often clients are concerned that their spouse will not respond to interrogatories or notices to produce and/or will stall, delay or refuse to appear for an oral deposition. Those are understandable, but not reasonable concerns. The Court will enforce reasonable discovery requests, and will be very impatient with a party who has frustrated or unreasonably delayed discovery. The Court may:

1. Limit or bar a person’s trial testimony if they have not cooperated with discovery;
2. Assess counsel fees against the offending party; or
3. In some instances, impose monetary sanctions and penalties against the offending party.

Remember, on the other hand, that Discovery is a “two-way street.” While you have every right to require your spouse to participate in Discovery, you, correspondingly, have the obligation to respond to reasonable requests from your spouse. If properly conducted, Discovery will provide both parties with an information base to allow them to negotiate fairly and enter into a Settlement Agreement.

For more information on this topic, please contact Megan Smith at msmith@offitkurman.com.

ABOUT MEGAN SMITH

msmith@offitkurman.com | 267.338.1378

Megan E. Smith devotes her practice to matrimonial, divorce, and family law, and is a trained collaborative lawyer and divorce mediator. She works with clients in all areas of matrimonial and family law, including the developing area of LGBT law as it relates to children and families. Her practice is concentrated in divorce, dissolution of civil unions, termination of domestic partnerships, custody, parenting time, child support, alimony, equitable distribution and pre-nuptial planning as well as related post-judgment issues, such as emancipation, support enforcement, and implementation of settlement agreements.

In 2008-2015, Ms. Smith has been a co-chair and speaker at the New Jersey Association for Justice annual convention in Atlantic City. Ms. Smith was recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2016 and a Super Lawyer 2017-2018. She was also recognized as an Awesome Attorney in 2015, 2016 and 2017 by South Jersey Magazine.

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