What happens if your spouse doesn't respond to discovery?
Asked by: Dr. Theo Eichmann I | Last update: January 19, 2026Score: 5/5 (69 votes)
Ask for a court order If the other person does not respond, or their response is still incomplete, you can ask the court to order them to respond. You have 45 days from the service of the most recent responses to ask the court to make an order requiring an answer.
What if my ex doesn't answer discovery requests?
If you filed a request for discovery and the other party will not answer or provide you with the information, you can file a Motion To Compel. This Motion asks the Court to force the other party to answer your requests. You can also ask the Court to sanction the other party for not answering your requests.
What happens if I don't respond to discovery?
If you have received discovery requests (which would probably come in the mail), you have thirty days to mail your written responses back to the other side. Missing that thirty-day deadline can be serious. It could even result in you losing the case.
What happens if the respondent does not reply?
In the event a respondent, after service of process, fails to file an appearance, responsive pleading or answer within 30 days of being served with the summons and petition, the petitioner may request the allegations in the petition be admitted as true and request the court enter a judgment in favor of the petitioner ...
What is abuse of the discovery process?
Discovery abuse takes a variety of forms including evasive discovery responses, boilerplate objections to written discovery, speaking objections during depositions, the failure to produce responsive documents, and even making misrepresentations.
What Can I Do If the Opposing Side Won't Respond to Discovery Requests?
What is the biggest danger in the discovery process?
- Setting the Stage. ...
- 01) THE PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED IS NOT CLEAR. ...
- 02) YOU ARE NOT INVOLVING THE RIGHT PEOPLE. ...
- 03) A DECISION MAKER IS MISSING. ...
- 04) NEW STAKEHOLDERS ARE INTRODUCED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROCESS. ...
- 05) THERE IS NO ALIGNMNET WITH EXTERNAL DEPENDENCIES. ...
- The Payoff.
What two things are generally protected from discovery?
Certain types of information are generally protected from discovery; these include information which is privileged and the work product of the opposing party.
What consequences can result from a refusal to cooperate with an order compelling discovery?
(b) Failure to Comply with a Court Order. (1) Sanctions Sought in the District Where the Deposition Is Taken. If the court where the discovery is taken orders a deponent to be sworn or to answer a question and the deponent fails to obey, the failure may be treated as contempt of court.
Can you sue someone for not responding?
You can ask for a default against the defendant who missed the deadline. Later, if any other defendant misses their deadline, you can ask for a default against them as well. You can wait for all the deadlines to pass. Then you can ask for a default for all the defendants that do not respond.
How long does a divorce take if one party doesn't agree?
According to a 2019 survey conducted by Martindale-Nolo Research, contested divorces take at least 18 months to finalize in California.
Do cases settle after discovery?
Do Most Cases Settle After Discovery? Many personal injury lawsuits conclude either during or at the end of the discovery phase. In many cases, the defendants don't want evidence against them revealed in court.
Can a case be dismissed during discovery?
The judge doesn't see the evidence provided in discovery unless there is a specific motion related to an issue on discovery, or whatever evidence is presented at trial. And a case can get dismissed at anytime.
How to avoid discovery in divorce?
Confidentiality agreements are a valuable tool, allowing parties to agree on the terms of information sharing, thereby preventing unnecessary exposure. Opting for mediation or collaborative divorce can also help maintain privacy, as these methods typically require less public documentation than court cases.
What happens if discovery is not answered?
If the other person did not respond or didn't provide complete responses, try to work it out with them directly first. If that does not work, you can request a court order that requires them to respond or respond with more information. You have 45 days to do this.
Is discovery worth it in a divorce?
Informed Decision-Making: Knowledge is power, especially in divorce proceedings. Discovery allows you to gain comprehensive insights into your spouse's financial situation, assets, debts, and other crucial aspects that can influence the outcome of the case.
How important is discovery in a lawsuit?
Overall, the discovery process is a critical part of the civil litigation process, as it allows the parties to obtain the information and evidence they need to prepare for trial.
What happens if you sue someone and they ignore it?
A default judgment lets the court assume the lawsuit's allegations are true. The plaintiff or debt collector receives everything they requested, including the amount of money due to lack of a written response.
What if a judge ignores the law?
If you feel the judge committed misconduct, what you can do would be to report him to your state's judiciary committee. If what he did is serious enough, he could be unseated, even potentially disbarred.
Can you go to jail for ignoring a lawsuit?
yes, if you ignore a lawsuit the court automatically assumes you are unable to dispute it, which means the default judgment is in favor of the person suing you. The judge will perceive you as guilty and you will go to jail.
What happens if discovery responses are late?
What happens if I am late serving my responses? Missing the deadline to serve your responses has a couple of effects: You waive (give up) any objections to the discovery requests. This means that any answers served must contain no objections to the questions.
What happens if a motion to compel discovery is ignored?
If a party or party's officer, director, or managing agent fails to obey a discovery order, the court may issue further orders. A court must also order a disobedient party, the advising attorney, or both to pay expenses resulting from the failure to reply.
What happens if defendant lies in discovery?
When the truth is discovered, the judge may impose a fine, assign additional litigation costs, or dismiss the case entirely if it was brought by the party who provided false information.
What are two disadvantages of discovery?
However, it also has disadvantages such as taking more time than direct teaching, requiring greater resources, and relying on students having sufficient prior skills and knowledge to learn effectively through discovery.
What is an example of discovery abuse?
- Making requests for information that is not necessary or allowed.
- Conducting discovery for an improper purpose, such as to harass or obstruct the other side.
- Asking for more discovery than is necessary or appropriate for the case.
What must be provided to the defense during discovery?
Further, the prosecutor is required to provide the defense with evidence that may hurt his case, called exculpatory evidence. This evidence could show the defendant's innocence. If the prosecution does not provide it to the defense, it may require a new trial.