Rule 27.Depositions Before Action or Pending Appeal

Current through June 1, 2026 · Last verified July 10, 2026

In one sentenceRule 27 lets someone preserve testimony that might otherwise be lost — before a lawsuit is even filed, or after judgment while an appeal is pending — by petitioning a court for permission to depose witnesses whose evidence could disappear before trial.

Full Text of Rule 27

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) Before Action.

(1) Petition; Order; Notice. A person who desires to perpetuate his own testimony or that of other persons may file in a district court a petition verified by his oath (or, if there be more than one petitioner, then by the oath of at least one of them) stating either: (1) That the petitioner expects to be a party to an action in a court in this state and, in such case, the name of the persons who he expects will be adverse parties; or (2) that the proof of some facts is necessary to perfect the title to property in which petitioner is interested or others similarly situated may be interested or to establish any other matter which it may hereafter become material to establish, including marriage, divorce, birth, death, descent or heirship, though no action may at any time be anticipated, or, if anticipated, the expected adverse parties to such action are unknown to petitioner. The petition shall also state the names of the witnesses to be examined and their places of residence and a brief outline of the facts expected to be proved, and if any person named in the petition as an expected adverse party is known to the petitioner to be an infant or incompetent person the petition shall state such fact. If the expected adverse parties are unknown, it shall be so stated. The court shall make an order allowing the examination and directing notice to be given, which notice, if the expected adverse parties are named in the petition, shall be personally served on them in the manner provided in Rule 4(e) and, if the expected adverse parties are stated to be unknown, and if real property is to be affected by such testimony a copy of such notice shall be served on the county clerk and recorder, or his deputy, of the county where the property to be affected by such testimony or some part of such property is situated but in any event said notice shall be published for not less than two weeks in some newspaper to be designated by the court making the order in such manner as may be designated by such court. If service of said notice cannot with due diligence be made, in the manner provided in Rule 4(e), upon any expected adverse party named in the petition, the court may make such order as is just for service upon him by publication or otherwise and shall appoint, for persons named in the petition as expected adverse parties who are not served in the manner provided in Rule 4(e), an attorney who shall represent them, and, in case they are not otherwise represented, shall cross-examine the witness. Such notice shall state the title of the proceeding, including the court and county in which it is pending, the time and place of the examination and either a brief outline of the facts expected to be proved or a description of the property to be affected by such testimony. Any notice heretofore given which contains the above required matters shall be deemed sufficient. Any personal service required by the provisions hereof shall be made at least 14 days before the testimony is taken. If any person named in the petition as an expected adverse party is stated in any paper filed in such proceeding to be an infant or incompetent person, the provisions of Rule 17(c) apply, but no guardian ad litem need be appointed for any expected adverse party whose name is unknown.

(2) Testimony Taken. Upon proof of the service of the notice the court shall take the testimony of the witnesses named in the petition upon the facts therein set forth; and the taking of same may be continued from time to time, in the discretion of the court, without giving any further notice. The testimony shall be taken on question and answer unless the court otherwise directs, and any party to the proceeding may question witnesses either orally or upon written interrogatories. The testimony, when taken, shall be signed and sworn to in writing by each respective witness and certified by the court. If any witness is absent from the county in which the proceedings are pending, the court shall designate some person authorized to administer oaths, by name or otherwise, to take and certify his testimony and the person so designated shall take his testimony in manner aforesaid and certify and return same to the court with his certificate attached thereto showing that he has complied with the requirements of said order.

(3) Proofs Prima Facie Evidence. The affidavit, return, certificate and other proofs of compliance with the provisions of this section (a), or certified copies thereof, shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated.

(4) How and When Used. If a trial be had in which the petitioner named in the petition or any successor in interest of such petitioner or any person similarly situated shall be a party, or between any parties, in which trial it may be material to establish the facts which such testimony proves or tends to prove, upon proof of the death or insanity of the witness or witnesses, or of his or their inability to attend the trial by reason of age, sickness, infirmity, absence or for any other cause, any testimony, which shall have been taken as herein provided, or certified copies thereof, may be introduced and used by either party to such trial.

(b) After Judgment or After Appeal. If an appeal of a judgment is pending, or, if none is pending, then at any time within 35 days from the entry of such judgment, the court in which the judgment was rendered may allow the taking of the depositions of witnesses to perpetuate their testimony for use in the event of further proceedings in such court. In such case the party who desires to perpetuate the testimony may make a motion in such court for leave to take the depositions, upon the same notice and service thereof as if the action were pending in such court. The motion shall show: (1) The names and addresses of the persons to be examined and the substance of the testimony, so far as known, which he expects to elicit from each; (2) the reasons for perpetuating their testimony. If the court finds that the perpetuation of the testimony is proper to avoid a failure or delay of justice, it may make an order allowing the depositions to be taken, and thereupon the depositions may be taken and used in the same manner and under the same conditions as are prescribed in these rules for depositions taken in actions pending in trial courts.

Amendment History

Amended effective January 1, 2012.

Plain-English Summary

Sometimes evidence is at risk of disappearing before a case is even filed — a witness is elderly, ill, or likely to become unavailable. Rule 27 lets a person petition a district court, before any lawsuit begins, for permission to depose that witness anyway. The petition must be verified under oath and must identify the expected adverse parties (or explain why they are unknown), name the witnesses to be examined, and outline the facts expected to be proved. If the court grants the petition, it directs how notice is served — personally on known expected parties, and by publication when they cannot be found — and may appoint an attorney to represent and cross-examine on behalf of unserved expected parties. The resulting testimony can later be used at trial if the witness has since died, become insane, or is unable to attend for some other reason.

The rule also covers testimony taken after judgment. If an appeal is pending, or if no appeal is pending but judgment was entered within the last 35 days, the court that entered the judgment can allow depositions to preserve testimony for use in later proceedings in that same court. The party seeking to preserve the testimony moves for leave, explaining who will be examined, what they are expected to say, and why the testimony needs to be preserved now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a deposition in Colorado before filing a lawsuit?

Yes — Rule 27 lets you petition a district court for permission to depose a witness whose testimony might otherwise be lost, even before any action is filed, as long as you verify the petition under oath and identify the expected adverse parties or explain why they are unknown.

How is a petition to perpetuate testimony served on people who have not been sued yet?

Known expected adverse parties are personally served with notice, unknown parties may be reached through published notice, and the court can appoint an attorney to represent and cross-examine on behalf of anyone who cannot be served.

Can I preserve testimony after a judgment while my appeal is pending?

Yes — the court that entered the judgment may allow depositions to perpetuate testimony for further proceedings if an appeal is pending, or if no appeal is pending but judgment was entered within the last 35 days.

Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the official Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure (Colo. R. Civ. P. 27). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Colorado (C.R.S. § 13-2-108; Colo. Const. art. VI). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 10, 2026. · Official source

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