During a Wheat Ridge, Arvada, or Golden divorce, you may hear the term ‘discovery.’ Discovery is the collection of information and documents related to a case in the Colorado Court system. Whether a criminal case, a child custody case, or a dissolution of marriage – discovery can be requested. Often, when it comes to a Jefferson County divorce, discovery is requested when one party believes that more information is needed from the other side.
The Discovery Process During an Arvada Dissolution of Marriage: Getting Pertinent Documents
Because discovery is an information gathering process, there are formal steps one party needs to take to get access to information held by the other party. The first step is to file a legal request for production of documents. When it comes to divorce, the documents one party often requests are related to finances, like income and bank statements. For child custody issues, a party may request documents related to the children like school or medical records.
Discovery and Interrogatories in Jefferson County Court Divorce Cases
Interrogatories are another way that each party can gather necessary information. An interrogatory is a list of questions, usually compiled with your Mountain View divorce lawyer, that is sent to the opposing side. The opposing side has 35 days to provide written responses and the questions must be answered honestly, as if under oath. Lying or omitting information purposely is a crime in Jefferson County and can result in criminal charges.
Wheat Ridge Subpoenas and Discovery Issued by Divorce Lawyers
If one party cannot or will not produce information requested through the request for production of documents or interrogatories, then your Wheat Ridge and Jefferson County Divorce attorneys can go one step further and serve a subpoena for the information. The subpoena can be served to a third party who may have access to the information one party is seeking (like a credit card company or employer) or can be served on the other party in the divorce. Failure to comply with a subpoena can result in contempt of court proceedings.
Depositions in a Westminster Divorce: A Thorough Discovery Technique
Depositions are in person questioning interviews, done under oath, and in the presence of a court reporter. It is an avenue for each party to question anyone who may have vital information related to the case. Testimony acquired through a deposition is admissible in court, should the case go to trial over contested issues.
If you are getting a divorce, call the best divorce lawyers from the Pearman Law Firm at 303-991-7600 for a initial phone consultation.
Image Source: Pexels-Pixabay