(a) Petition. A person who desires to perpetuate his or her own testimony or that of another person or preserve any evidence or to inspect documents or property or copy documents pursuant to R. 4:18-1 may file a verified petition, seeking an appropriate order, entitled in the petitioner’s name, showing: (1) that the petitioner expects to be a party to an action cognizable in a court of this State but is presently unable to bring it or cause it to be brought; (2) the subject matter of such action and the petitioner’s interest therein; (3) the facts which the petitioner desires to establish by the proposed testimony or evidence and the reasons for desiring to perpetuate or inspect it; (4) the names or a description of the persons the petitioner expects will be opposing parties and their addresses so far as known; (5) 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 (6) the names and addresses of the persons having control or custody of the documents or property to be inspected and a description thereof. The court may also grant a pre-complaint petition for depositions filed pursuant to this rule by a person asserting that due to extraordinary circumstances, which shall be explained in detail by affidavit, such depositions are necessary to enable compliance with N.J.S.A. 2A:53a-27 to -29 (Affidavit of Merit Statute).
Rule 4:11-1.Before Action
Last amended September 1, 2022 · Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026
In one sentenceRule 4:11-1 lets a person who expects to be a party but cannot yet sue file a verified petition to perpetuate testimony or preserve evidence before an action is brought, on notice to expected adverse parties.
Full Text of Rule 4:11-1
(b) Notice and Service. At least 20 days before the date of hearing the petitioner shall serve upon each person named in the petition as an expected adverse party, in the manner provided by R. 4:4-4 and R. 4:4-5(a)(1), a notice, with a copy of the petition attached, stating the time and place of the application for the order described in the petition. If it appears to the court after diligent inquiry that such service cannot be made, the court may order service by publication or otherwise, and shall appoint an attorney to represent persons so served, who, if such persons are not otherwise represented, may cross-examine the deponent. Such attorney’s compensation may be fixed by the court and charged to the petitioner. The provisions of R. 4:26-2 apply if any expected adverse party is a minor or incapacitated person.
(c) Order and Examination. If the court finds that the perpetuation of the testimony or evidence or the inspection may prevent a failure or delay of justice, it shall make an order designating or describing the evidence to be preserved, or the documents or property to be inspected or 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 or inspection may then be taken in accordance with these rules; and the court may make such orders as are provided for by R. 4:18 and R. 4:19.
(d) Use of Deposition. If a deposition to perpetuate testimony is taken under these rules or if, although not so taken, it would be admissible in evidence in the courts of the United States or of the state in which it is taken, it may, in accordance with the provisions of R. 4:16-1 and R. 4:16-2, be used in any action between the same parties or their privies involving the same subject matter, which is subsequently brought in any court of this State having cognizance thereof.
Amendment History
New Jersey publishes each rule’s amendment record in a “History” note beneath the rule. It is reproduced verbatim below; the “R.R.” citations refer to the former Revised Rules numbering the current rules replaced.
Source - R.R. 4:17-1. Paragraphs (c) and (d) amended July 14, 1972 to be effective September 5, 1972; paragraphs (a) and (c) amended July 16, 1981 to be effective September 14, 1981; paragraphs (a) and (c) amended July 14, 1992 to be effective September 1, 1992; paragraph (b) amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; paragraph (a) amended July 10, 1998 to be effective September 1, 1998; paragraph (b) amended July 12, 2002 to be effective September 3, 2002; paragraph (b) amended July 23, 2010 to be effective September 1, 2010; paragraph (b) amended August 5, 2022 to be effective September 1, 2022.
Plain-English Summary
Sometimes evidence must be captured before a lawsuit can be filed. This rule allows a person who expects to become a party to a cognizable action, but is presently unable to bring it, to file a verified petition to perpetuate testimony or preserve or inspect evidence. The petition must lay out the expected action, the petitioner’s interest, the facts to be established, the expected adverse parties, and the witnesses or evidence involved.
Notice protects those who would be sued. The petitioner serves each expected adverse party at least 20 days before the hearing, and if service cannot be made the court may allow service by publication and appoint an attorney to represent and cross-examine. If perpetuating the testimony may prevent a failure or delay of justice, the court orders the deposition, which can later be used in an action between the same parties on the same subject matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you take a deposition before filing a lawsuit?
Yes, in limited circumstances. Rule 4:11-1 lets a person who expects to be a party but cannot yet sue file a verified petition to perpetuate testimony or preserve evidence, on notice to the expected adverse parties and by court order.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the
official New Jersey Rules of Court (N.J. Ct. R. 4:11-1). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey (N.J. Const. art. VI, § 2, ¶ 3). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 7, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: perpetuate testimonydeposition before actionpre-suit depositionverified petitionpreserve evidence