Unless otherwise authorized by the court or stipulated by the parties, a deposition is limited to one day of seven hours. The court must allow additional time if needed for a fair examination of the deponent or if the deponent or another person or other circumstance impedes or delays the examination.
Rule 5.3.Depositions Upon Oral Examination-Duration
Rule 5. DISCOVERY IN CIVIL ACTIONS · Last amended 2003 · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceRule 5.3 limits a Georgia deposition to one day of seven hours unless the parties stipulate otherwise or the court authorizes more time, and requires the court to allow additional time when needed for a fair examination or when something impedes or delays the deposition.
Full Text of Rule 5.3
Plain-English Summary
Rule 5.3 puts a practical cap on how long a witness can be kept in a deposition chair: one day, seven hours, unless the parties agree to something different or the court says otherwise. That default gives lawyers a planning number to work with and gives witnesses a limit they can count on.
The cap bends when fairness requires it. If seven hours isn’t enough for a fair examination of the witness, or if the deponent, another person, or some other circumstance slows the deposition down or gets in the way, the court must allow more time — the rule doesn’t leave that as optional. A lawyer who stalls or a witness who won’t answer directly can’t use the seven-hour clock as a shield.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can a Georgia deposition normally run?
One day of seven hours, unless the court authorizes more time or the parties stipulate otherwise.
Can the parties agree to extend a deposition beyond the seven-hour limit?
Yes, by stipulation, or the court can authorize additional time.
When is the court required to allow more than seven hours?
When additional time is needed for a fair examination of the deponent, or when the deponent, another person, or another circumstance impedes or delays the examination.
Does this seven-hour limit apply to depositions taken by written questions?
The rule is titled “Depositions Upon Oral Examination,” so it addresses the duration of oral depositions specifically.
Is the seven-hour cap spread over multiple days by default?
No. Absent authorization or stipulation otherwise, the limit is framed as one day of seven hours.
Amendment History
Adopted effective May 8, 2003.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Uniform Superior Court Rules, published by the
Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia. Last verified July 17, 2026.
· Official source
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