What is a deposition in the context of civil cases?

A deposition, in the context of civil cases, is a formal procedure during which a witness is officially questioned under oath, typically in the presence of an attorney for each party involved in the lawsuit. This process serves several key purposes in the legal system. It allows attorneys to gather information, assess the witness's credibility, and establish a record of what the witness knows about the case. The testimony given during a deposition can later be used in court if the witness is unable to attend the trial or to challenge inconsistencies in their statements.

This option accurately reflects the nature of depositions as part of the discovery process in litigation, where gathering detailed information before a trial is critical. The other choices presented do not capture the essence and procedural aspects of a deposition accurately. For instance, while in-person witness statements may occur, the term "deposition" specifically refers to the questioning process rather than just recording a statement. Written questions provided to a party or the submission of evidence relate to different procedural stages in a case and do not describe the deposition process itself.