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Civil procedure

special master/master in chancery

A special master or master in chancery is an individual appointed by the court to assist with some part of a lawsuit, such as discovery—depositions, written questions, and production of documents—and to make recommendations to the judge on how to resolve related disputes. Courts have held that discovery questions that require extensive examination of highly technical and complex documents by a person having both a technical and a legal background may constitute an exceptional condition sufficient to justify the appointment of a master to supervise such discovery.

In Delaware, the appointment of a special master or master in chancery is governed by the Delaware Chancery Court Rules, particularly Rule 53. This rule allows the court to appoint a special master for cases where some aspect of the lawsuit, such as complex discovery processes, requires extensive examination of documents or involves issues that demand specialized expertise. The special master assists the court by managing these aspects and making recommendations to the judge. The appointment is typically justified when the issues at hand are highly technical or complex and would benefit from the oversight of someone with both technical and legal knowledge. The use of a special master is intended to streamline the legal process and provide the court with expertise in managing intricate legal and technical matters.

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Civil procedure

special master/master in chancery

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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Delaware State Code

Delaware State Code

Civil procedure

special master/master in chancery

Articles