The next step in the divorce process is discovery.  This proceedure allows both sides to get the information they need to determine the size of the community estate and to learn the position the other party will take on certain issues.  Discovery can be written or oral.

Written Discovery

There are typically five types of written discovery relevant to a divorce case.

Request for Disclosure: These are standard questions that are asked in every civil suit.  Parties are required to identify persons with information relevant to the case, identify expert witnesses, detail the legal contentions and specify any economic damages.

Interogatories:  One of the most useful pretrial discovery methods, interrogatories are a set of written questions sent to the opposing party that require responses about relevant issues, such as the location of bank accounts, balances in those accounts and signatory privileges on the accounts.  Although almost anything relevant to the case can be asked, the total number of questions is limited to 25.

Request for Production of Documents:  This discovery tool allows a party to request copies of documents relevant to the issues in the case.  Just about any document can be requested.  The most frequently requested items are records reflecting bank accounts, 401(k) plans, stock options, income, gifts to people other than the spouse, safe deposit boxes, telephone records, insurance plans, and credit card statements.

Request for Admission: These are statements that the opposing party must either admit or deny.  If they refuse, they must state a reason why the statements can neither be admitted nor denied.  The person answering these requests will be stuck with the answers, and failure to answer them will result in all of the requests being deemed admitted.

Sworn Inventory and Appraisement: This type of discovery is unique to divorce cases.  It requires the answering party to list every asset he or she knows about.  It also requires the party to characterize the assets as either separate property or community property and to place a value on it.  This document is signed under oath, so a party who deliberately hides assets and keeps them off of the inventory will be subject to punitive remedies from the court.

Oral Discovery

Oral discovery is in the form of depositions.  These are pretrial witness examinations taken under oath in front of a court reporter.  Any witness with information that will affect the case can be deposed.  Under Texas law, the deposition testimony can be presented to the court as if the witness were testifying in person before the court.

The deposition is an incredibly useful tool because it locks the witness into the testimony he or she will give.  The witness cannot come back later and change his or her story regarding a certain event.  If they do this, then the deposition can be used to challenge their truthfulness as a witness.

 

Excerpted from my book, "Basics of Texas Divorce Law"

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Photo of Michelle O'Neil Michelle O'Neil

Michelle May O’Neil has 30+ years’ experience representing small business owners, professionals, and individuals in litigation related to family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and complex property division. Described by one lawyer as “a lethal combination of sweet-and-salty”, Ms. O’Neil exudes…

Michelle May O’Neil has 30+ years’ experience representing small business owners, professionals, and individuals in litigation related to family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and complex property division. Described by one lawyer as “a lethal combination of sweet-and-salty”, Ms. O’Neil exudes genuine compassion for her client’s difficulties, yet she can be relentless when in pursuit of a client’s goals. One judge said of Ms. O’Neil, “She cannot be out-gunned, out-briefed, or out-lawyered!”

Family Law Specialist

Ms. O’Neil became a board-certified family law specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1997 and has maintained her certification since that time. While representing clients in litigation before the trial court is an important part of her practice, Ms. O’Neil also handles appellate matters in the trial court, courts of appeals and Texas Supreme Court. Lawyers frequently consult with Ms. O’Neil on their litigation cases about specialized legal issues requiring particularized attention both at the trial court and appellate levels. This gives her a unique perspective and depth of perception that benefits both her litigation and appellate clients.

Top Lawyers in Texas and America

Ms. O’Neil has been named to the list of Texas SuperLawyers for many years, a peer-voted honor given to only about 5% of the lawyers in the state of Texas. Ms. O’Neil received the special honor of being named by Texas SuperLawyers as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Texas, Top 100 Lawyers in Texas, and Top 100 Lawyers in DFW for multiple years. She was named one of the Best Lawyers in America and received an “A-V” peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directories for the highest quality legal ability and ethical standards.

Author and Speaker

A noted author, Ms. O’Neil released her second book Basics of Texas Divorce Law in November 2010, with a second edition released in 2013, and a third edition expected in 2015.  Her first book, All About Texas Law and Kids, was published in September 2009 by Texas Lawyer Press. In 2012, Ms. O’Neil co-authored the booklets What You Need To Know About Common Law Marriage In Texas and Social Study Evaluations.  The State Bar of Texas and other providers of continuing education for attorneys frequently enlist Ms. O’Neil to provide instruction to attorneys on topics of her expertise in the family law arena.