Use of Interrogatories

Interrogatories are a simple and inexpensive method of discovery.   By the same token,      they have limited use because the answers are often carefully crafted by lawyers to avoid providing any useful information.  Interrogatories serve certain limited purposes.

Interrogatories are best for obtaining specific factual information such as the identification of specific assets and liabilities, including, for example, account numbers at specific financial institutions.  If local circuit court rules do not mandate the disclosure of such information, interrogatories are a must for obtaining it at the outset of a case.

Interrogatories are also essential for the identification of trail and expert witnesses.  Recent changes in the Supreme Court Rules provide for complete disclosure of trail witnesses upon written interrogatories and substitute interrogatory answers relating to expert witnesses for the now-abolished Supreme Court Rule 220 disclosure of expert witnesses.  See Supreme Court Rules 213, 218.

All of the above-described factual information is included in the recently adopted standard matrimonial interrogatories.               

 

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