Coparent Academy Podcast #184

How to Get the Most Out of Your Coparent's Deposition Testimony

Date: November 3, 2025
Hosts: Ron Gore (A), Linda VanValkenburg (B)
Theme: Maximizing the Value of a Family Law Deposition Transcript

Episode Overview

In this episode, family law attorney Ron Gore guides coparents through practical, actionable steps to leverage a deposition transcript after spending significant resources to obtain it. The episode focuses on organizing, annotating, and effectively using the transcript to support your case and work more effectively with your attorney in family law litigation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Initial Approach to the Deposition Transcript

• Read the Whole Transcript Once

  • “First thing is, you're going to read the transcript through in its entirety one time. That's going to help you get used to the language of the deposition.” (Ron Gore, 00:37)
  • The first read-through helps grasp the overall flow and reduces the sense of overwhelm.

• Second, More Analytical Read-Through

  • “As you go back through a second time, you're going to be able to pick things out that maybe you didn't quite notice … because you had the cognitive overload of just dealing with the transcript that you'd never seen before.” (Ron Gore, 00:59)
  • The second pass is for deeper focus and issue-spotting.

2. Linking to Litigation Issues

• Use Your Prepared List of Litigation Issues
  • “If you have that list of issues to be litigated, now, you're going to take that list ... and you're going to read back through the deposition transcript and you're going to be making notes that are organized by those issues.” (Ron Gore, 01:17)
• Organize by Relevance
  • Note any content that touches multiple issues and organize accordingly.
• Reference Precisely
  • “You're going to see that there are page numbers and then there's line numbers as well. Whenever you're referencing something ... you're going to have the page number and then the line number range.” (Ron Gore, 01:54)
  • Use page and line numbers so your attorney can quickly spot relevant parts.

3. What to Document in the Transcript

• Categories to Look For
  • Helpful admissions by your co-parent.
  • False, misleading, or easily disprovable statements.
  • Statements that may be unfavorable for you.
• Quote:
  • “You're going to want to document both of those things. You're also going to have in the transcript probably some areas that weren't great for you.” (Ron Gore, 02:25)

4. Verifying False Statements and Building an Evidentiary File

• Distinguish Lie vs. Mistake
  • “If it's something that seems more clearly to be a lie than just a misstatement, then ask yourself, how can I prove it?” (Ron Gore, 02:54)
• Types of Proof
  • Recording, photograph, text message, document, or witness.
• Organizational Tips
  • Use structured folders (Dropbox, Google Drive) by litigation issue and by statement.
  • Main document lists everything; subfolders store the proofs.

5. Using Witnesses to Dispute False Statements

• Practicalities and Ethics
  • “Now you have to ask yourself, is that person willing to come to court, swear under oath and testify against your co-parent...?” (Ron Gore, 03:43)
  • Only pursue witness testimony if the issue is significant—don’t ask others to get involved over minor disputes.
  • Let attorneys vet all potential witness info in advance.

6. Dealing with Negative Information About Yourself

• Full Disclosure with Attorney
  • “If something came out in the deposition that was negative for you, you need to provide your attorney with everything that relates to that, especially if you haven't let them know about it before, which you should have.” (Ron Gore, 05:25)
• Help Your Lawyer Adjust Strategy
  • Unfavorable information could change your litigation posture and strategy.

7. Why Meticulous Organization Matters

• Benefit to Your Lawyer (and Yourself)
  • “Full disclosure, following up, providing your attorney with all of the information, good and bad, all of the documents, so they have it at a fingertip in an organized fashion, is the absolute best way to make the most of that expensive deposition transcript that you've got.” (Ron Gore, 06:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On How to Help Your Attorney:
  • “Part of you is probably not even sure your attorney is going to read the whole thing, and so you're wondering, what did I do all of this for?” (Ron Gore, 00:18)
• On Deciding When to Use Witnesses:
  • “Is it a little lie that you know, shows that they don't have a lot of credibility, but it isn’t world changing?...It’s important to make that distinction early on.” (Ron Gore, 04:24)
• On Being Realistic and Ethical:
  • “Are you being petty? Is this a small thing or is this an important thing? It’s important to make that distinction early on.” (Ron Gore, 04:37)

Timestamped Important Segments

• 00:00 — Introduction and overview of why deposition transcripts matter
• 00:37 — First read-through: getting familiar with the transcript
• 01:17 — Organizing notes by litigation issues
• 01:54 — How to reference specific statements for your attorney
• 02:25 — Identifying supportive, false, or harmful statements
• 02:54 — How to verify and prove false statements
• 03:43 — Considering and preparing witnesses
• 05:25 — What to do with negative information about yourself
• 06:18 — Importance of full disclosure and organization

Listener Engagement

• Ron invites listeners to share their own experiences with depositions (anonymously) to help others in similar situations, emphasizing discretion and privacy around family law issues. (07:18)

Final Takeaway

This episode is a practical masterclass in turning an expensive deposition transcript into a strategic litigation tool through rigorous reading, issue-oriented annotation, clear evidence organization, and transparent collaboration with your attorney. By following these tips, coparents can make a tangible impact on their family law case.

Note:
This summary captures the substance and tone of Ron Gore’s advice. Any calls to like, share, or subscribe, as well as general contact information, have been omitted as per instructions.