§ 9-11-27.Depositions before action or pending appeal
Chapter 11. Civil Practice Act · Article 5. Depositions and Discovery · Last amended 1993 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceO.C.G.A. § 9-11-27 lets a person who expects to be a party to future litigation petition the superior court to perpetuate testimony before any suit is filed, and separately lets a party to an already-decided case obtain the same kind of pre-litigation deposition to preserve testimony pending or in anticipation of an appeal.
(1)Petition. A person who desires to perpetuate such person’s own testimony or that of another person regarding any matter that may be cognizable in any court may file a verified petition in the superior court of the county where the witness resides. The petition shall be entitled in the name of the petitioner and shall show that the petitioner expects to be a party to litigation but is presently unable to bring it or cause it to be brought, the subject matter of the expected action and the petitioner’s interest therein, the facts which the petitioner desires to establish by the proposed testimony and the petitioner’s reasons for desiring to perpetuate it, the names or a description of the persons the petitioner expects will be adverse parties and their addresses so far as known, and the names and addresses of the persons to be examined and the substance of the testimony which the petitioner expects to elicit from each, and shall ask for an order authorizing the petitioner to take the depositions of the persons to be examined named in the petition, for the purpose of perpetuating their testimony.
(2)Notice and service. The petitioner shall thereafter serve a notice upon each person named in the petition as an expected adverse party, together with a copy of the petition, stating that the petitioner will apply to the court at a time and place named therein for the order described in the petition. At least 20 days before the date of hearing the notice shall be served either within or outside the county in the manner provided for service of summons; but, if such service cannot with due diligence be made upon any expected adverse party named in the petition, the court may make such order as is just for service by publication or otherwise and shall appoint, for persons not served, an attorney who shall represent them and, in case they are not otherwise represented, shall cross-examine the deponent. The court may make such order as is just requiring the petitioner to pay a reasonable fee to an attorney so appointed. If any expected adverse party is a minor or an incompetent person and does not have a general guardian, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem.
(3)Order and examination. If the court is satisfied that the perpetuation of the testimony may prevent a failure or delay of justice, it shall make an order designating or describing the persons whose depositions may be taken and specifying the subject matter of the examination and whether the depositions shall be taken upon oral examination or written interrogatories. The depositions may then be taken by a certified court reporter, or as otherwise provided by the rules of the Board of Court Reporting, in accordance with this chapter; and the court may make orders of the character provided for by Code Sections 9-11-34 and 9-11-35. For the purpose of applying this chapter to depositions for perpetuating testimony, each reference therein to the court in which the action is pending shall be deemed to refer to the court in which the petition for such deposition was filed.
(4)Use of deposition. If a deposition to perpetuate testimony is taken under this Code section or if, although not so taken, it would be otherwise admissible under the laws of this state, it may be used in any action involving the same parties and the same subject matter subsequently brought.
(b)Pending appeal. If an appeal has been taken from a judgment of a trial court or before the taking of an appeal if the time therefor has not expired, 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 the trial court. In such case the party who desires to perpetuate the testimony may make a motion in the trial court for leave to take the depositions, upon the same notice and service thereof as if the action were pending in the court. The motion shall show the names and addresses of persons to be examined, the substance of the testimony which the movant expects to elicit from each, and 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 may make orders of the character provided for by Code Sections 9-11-34 and 9-11-35; and thereupon the depositions may be taken before a certified court reporter, or as otherwise provided by the rules of the Board of Court Reporting, and used in the same manner and under the same conditions as are prescribed in this chapter for depositions taken in actions pending in court.
(c)Perpetuation by action. This Code section does not limit the power of a court to entertain an action to perpetuate testimony.
Plain-English Summary
Sometimes testimony needs preserving before a lawsuit even exists — a witness may be aging, ill, or about to become unreachable. Subsection (a) lets someone who expects to become a party file a verified petition in the superior court where the witness resides, showing that litigation is coming but can’t yet be brought, describing the subject matter and the petitioner’s interest, the facts to be established and why they need preserving, the names of expected adverse parties, and the names and expected testimony of those to be deposed. Notice has to reach every expected adverse party at least 20 days before the hearing, with publication and a court-appointed attorney available for anyone who can’t be found, and a guardian ad litem for any expected minor or incompetent adverse party. If the court is satisfied that perpetuating the testimony might prevent a failure or delay of justice, it designates who may be deposed and on what subjects, and the deposition proceeds like any other under the chapter.
Testimony preserved this way isn’t limited to the case that prompted it — it can be used in any later action between the same parties involving the same subject matter, whether or not it was taken through this exact petition procedure, so long as it would otherwise be admissible.
Subsection (b) provides the appellate counterpart: once a judgment has been entered, the trial court that rendered it may allow depositions to preserve testimony for use if the case returns there after an appeal, on a motion that shows the same kind of information as the pre-action petition and the same notice and service. And subsection (c) makes clear this section doesn’t cut off a court’s independent power to entertain a stand-alone action to perpetuate testimony outside this procedure altogether.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone take a deposition before filing a lawsuit in Georgia?
Yes, by filing a verified petition in the superior court of the county where the witness resides, asking the court to authorize depositions to perpetuate testimony.
What has to be in a pre-action petition to perpetuate testimony?
A showing that litigation is expected but can’t yet be brought, the subject matter and the petitioner’s interest, the facts and reasons for preserving them, the names of expected adverse parties, and the names and expected testimony of the people to be deposed.
How much notice do expected adverse parties get before the hearing on the petition?
At least 20 days before the date of the hearing.
Can testimony preserved this way be used later if a lawsuit is filed?
Yes, in any later action involving the same parties and the same subject matter, whether or not the deposition was taken under this exact procedure.
Does this section apply after a judgment has already been entered?
Yes. Subsection (b) lets the trial court that rendered the judgment allow depositions to preserve testimony pending or before an appeal.
Amendment History
Ga. L. 1966, p. 609, § 27; Ga. L. 1993, p. 1315, § 2.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, published by the
Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Georgia Code Revision Commission / LexisNexis. Last verified July 17, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:perpetuate testimony before lawsuit Georgiapre-suit deposition Georgiadeposition pending appeal Georgiapreserve testimony Georgia superior court petition