Rule 27.Depositions before action or pending appeal
Group V: Depositions and Discovery · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 13, 2026
In one sentenceRule 27 lets someone who cannot yet file suit take a deposition ahead of time to preserve testimony that might otherwise be lost, and offers the same tool to preserve testimony while a judgment is on appeal.
(1)Petition. A person who desires to perpetuate his own testimony or that of another person regarding any matter that may be cognizable in any court of the State may file a verified petition in the court in the Circuit of the residence of any expected adverse party. The petition shall be entitled in the name of the petitioner and shall show: 1. that the petitioner expects to be a party to an action cognizable in a court of the State but is presently unable to bring it or cause it to be brought; 2. the subject matter of the expected action and his interest therein; 3. the facts which he desires to establish by the proposed testimony and his reasons for desiring to perpetuate it; 4. the names or a description of the persons he expects will be adverse parties and their addresses so far as known; and 5. the names or a description of the persons to be examined and the substance of the testimony which he 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 without the circuit or state in the manner provided in Rule 4(d) 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 in the manner provided in Rule 4(d), an attorney who shall represent them, and, in case they are not otherwise represented, shall cross-examine the deponent. If any expected adverse party is a minor or incompetent the provisions of Rule 17(c) apply.
(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 in accordance with these rules; and the court may make orders of the character provided for by Rules 34 and 35. For the purpose of applying these rules 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 these rules or if, although not so taken, it would be admissible in evidence in the courts of the state in which it is taken, it may be used in any action involving the same subject matter subsequently brought in a court of this State in accordance with the provisions of Rule 32(a).
(b)Pending Appeal. If an appeal has been taken from a judgment of a 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 court. In such case the party who desires to perpetuate the testimony may make a motion in the court for leave to take the depositions, upon the same notice and service thereof as if the action was pending in the circuit court. The motion shall show (1) the names and addresses of persons to be examined and the substance of the testimony 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 may make orders of the character provided for by Rules 34 and 35, 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 the circuit court.
(c)Perpetuation by Action. This rule does not limit the power of a court to entertain an action to perpetuate testimony.
Notes
Note: At present Code §§ 19-17-40 et seq. provide for depositions de bene esse. This proposal, drawn from Federal Rule 27 with minor modifications, provides an easy method for perpetuating testimony prior to the filing of suit. It has been consistently held that it is not a method of discovery before suit is brought. As provided in paragraph (a)(1) the verified petition must establish that the petitioner expects to be a party but is unable to do so at the present time, and also must specify the proposed testimony and the names of the deponents, which indicates that the petitioner must know in advance the information sought to be perpetuated. In appropriate cases the rule also permits the use of Rules 34 and 35 if necessary. There are similar provisions for retaining the testimony if the case is on appeal.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 27(a) is not a discovery device for finding out what a future opponent knows — courts have consistently read it that way — it is a way to lock in testimony that is already identified and at risk of disappearing before a lawsuit can be filed. The petitioner files a verified petition in the circuit where an expected adverse party resides, showing that a court action is expected but cannot presently be brought, describing the subject matter and the petitioner's interest in it, the facts to be established and the reasons for preserving them now, the expected adverse parties, and the people to be examined along with the substance of the testimony expected from each.
Notice of the petition must reach each expected adverse party at least twenty days before the hearing, served the way a summons is served under Rule 4(d). When a party cannot be served that way despite due diligence, the court can order service by publication or another method and must appoint an attorney to represent anyone not properly served, including cross-examining the witness on that person's behalf. Rule 17(c)'s protections for minors and incompetent persons apply here as they would in any other proceeding.
If the court finds that perpetuating the testimony would prevent a failure or delay of justice, it enters an order identifying who may be deposed, the subject matter of the examination, and whether the deposition proceeds by oral examination or written questions, and the same orders available under Rules 34 and 35 remain available here. Once taken, the resulting deposition can be used in a later action on the same subject matter under the terms of Rule 32(a), the rule that governs when a deposition may substitute for live testimony.
Rule 27(b) extends the same idea to a case already decided: while an appeal is pending, or before the time to appeal has expired, the court that entered the judgment can allow depositions to preserve testimony for use if further proceedings become necessary, following the same notice and service requirements and the same finding that perpetuation would prevent a failure or delay of justice. Rule 27(c) closes the rule by confirming it does not cut off whatever independent power a court has to entertain an action whose sole purpose is to perpetuate testimony.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Rule 27 to find out what someone knows before deciding whether to sue them?
No. The rule is meant to preserve testimony you can already identify as at risk of being lost, not to explore whether a claim exists — the petition must specify the facts sought and the substance of the expected testimony in advance.
What must a pre-action petition under Rule 27 include?
A verified petition showing that the petitioner expects to be a party to an action not yet able to be brought, the subject matter and the petitioner's interest, the facts to be established and the reasons for perpetuating them, the expected adverse parties, and the persons to be examined along with the substance of their expected testimony.
How much notice do expected adverse parties get before the hearing?
At least twenty days, served in the manner Rule 4(d) prescribes for service of a summons.
What happens if an expected adverse party cannot be located or served?
The court can order service by publication or another method it finds just, and must appoint an attorney to represent that person, including cross-examining the deponent on their behalf.
Can Rule 27 be used while a case is on appeal?
Yes. Rule 27(b) allows the court that rendered the judgment to permit depositions preserving testimony for use in further proceedings, whether an appeal has already been taken or the time to appeal has not yet expired.
Can a deposition taken under this rule be used later at trial?
Yes, a deposition taken to perpetuate testimony under Rule 27 may be used in a later action involving the same subject matter, consistent with Rule 32(a).
Source & verification. Rule text, official Notes, and amendment
history are reproduced verbatim from the South Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure,
adopted by the Supreme Court of South Carolina. Last verified July 13, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:perpetuate testimony before suitdeposition before action South Carolinapreserving testimony pending appealRule 27 petition requirements