civil-procedure
Question Regarding Depositions
<p>Can a deposition be held without filing a lawsuit, going to trial, or absent any other court proceeding?</p>

<p>In the US, going to trial would not be necessary, because all but a few depositions occur as part of the pretrial preparations. A lawsuit would be required, though, unless there are other applicable procedures, such as an administrative quasi-judicial proceeding or a Congressional hearing. There might be other ways to answer your question, but it's too hypothetical and nonspecific for me to offer more. </p>
