Out-of-court question and answer session under oath; testimony given under oath, recorded in an authorized place outside of the courtroom and usually documented by a court stenographic or videographer reporter. The questions will be asked by the opposing attorney, with the party’s attorney present and able to object to improper questions; the purpose of a deposition is to have an official, sworn, written account for discovery purposes and to be used at trial if it occurs. In some jurisdictions a deposition is also referred to as an Examination Before Trial (EBT). A deposition can be taken of a party to the lawsuit or of a fact or expert witnesses.