(a) Notice. Except as otherwise provided by R. 4:14-9(b), a party desiring to take the deposition of any person upon oral examination shall give not less than 10 days notice in writing to every other party to the action. The notice shall state the time and place for taking the deposition, which shall be reasonably convenient for all parties, and the name and address of each person to be examined, if known, and, if the name is not known a general description sufficient to identify the person or the particular class or group to which the person belongs. If a defendant fails to appear or answer in any civil action within the time prescribed by these rules, depositions may be taken without notice to that defendant.
Rule 4:14-2.Notice of Examination; General Requirements; Deposition of Organization
Last amended September 1, 2024 · Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 7, 2026
In one sentenceRule 4:14-2 requires at least 10 days' written notice of an oral deposition and governs depositions of an organization, which must designate persons to testify about matters described with reasonable particularity in the notice.
Full Text of Rule 4:14-2
(b) Time. The court may for cause shown enlarge or shorten the time for taking the deposition.
(c) Organizations. In its notice or subpoena, a party may name as the deponent a public or private corporation, a partnership, an association, a governmental agency, or other entity and must describe with reasonable particularity the matters for examination. The named organization must designate one or more officers, directors, or managing agents, or designate other persons who consent to testify on its behalf; and it may set out the matters on which each person designated will testify. Before or promptly after the notice or subpoena is served, the parties and any nonparty organization must confer in good faith about the matters for examination. A subpoena must advise a nonparty organization of its duty to confer with all parties and to designate each person who will testify. The persons designated must testify about information known or reasonably available to the organization.
(d) Production of Things. The notice to a party deponent may be accompanied by a request made in compliance with and in accordance with the procedure stated in R. 4:18-1 for the production of documents and tangible things at the taking of the deposition. Before or promptly after the notice or subpoena is served, the serving party and the organization must confer in good faith about the matters for examination on notice to all parties and with opportunity for all to participate in that good faith conference.
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. 4:20-1. Former rule deleted and new R. 4:14-2 adopted July 14, 1972 to be effective September 5, 1972 (formerly in R. 4:10-1 and 4:14-1); paragraph (a) amended July 21, 1980 to be effective September 8, 1980; paragraphs (a) and (c) amended July 13, 1994 to be effective September 1, 1994; paragraphs (c) and (d) amended July 15, 2024 to be effective September 1, 2024.
Plain-English Summary
An oral deposition starts with notice. A party must give every other party at least 10 days’ written notice stating the time and place, which must be reasonably convenient, and identifying the person to be examined. The court may enlarge or shorten that time for cause.
Deposing an entity works differently. A party may name a corporation, partnership, association, or governmental agency as the deponent and must describe the matters for examination with reasonable particularity. The organization then designates one or more persons to testify on its behalf about information known or reasonably available to it, after the parties confer in good faith about the topics — New Jersey’s organizational-deposition procedure. The notice may also require the deponent to produce documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much notice is required for a deposition?
At least 10 days’ written notice to every other party, stating a reasonably convenient time and place and identifying the person to be deposed. The court may shorten or enlarge the time for cause.
How do you depose a company or organization?
Name the organization as the deponent and describe the matters for examination with reasonable particularity. The organization must designate one or more persons to testify on its behalf about information known or reasonably available to it.
Source & verification. The rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the
official New Jersey Rules of Court (N.J. Ct. R. 4:14-2). 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: notice of depositiondeposition noticeorganization depositioncorporate depositiondesignated witness