How do depositions differ from interrogatories?

Depositions involve sworn testimony, which distinguishes them from interrogatories. In a deposition, a witness is questioned under oath before a court reporter, and their responses are recorded and can be used as testimony in court proceedings. This formal process ensures that the testimony has legal weight and is taken seriously, as it includes the possibility of perjury for providing false statements.

Interrogatories, on the other hand, are written questions submitted by one party to another as part of the discovery process and do not involve live testimony or the same level of formality. The answers to interrogatories are typically provided in writing and are not made under oath in a direct testimony setting. Therefore, while both are tools for gathering information during the discovery phase of litigation, the nature and format of the information collected in depositions are distinctly more formal and provide a different evidentiary value compared to interrogatories.