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 Kansas, a special master, sometimes referred to as a master in chancery, is an individual appointed by the court to assist in complex aspects of a lawsuit, particularly in the discovery process. This can include overseeing depositions, managing written questions, and handling the production of documents. The appointment of a special master is typically justified under exceptional conditions where the matters at hand are highly technical and complex, necessitating expertise that combines both technical knowledge and legal insight. Kansas courts may appoint a special master under Kansas Statute Annotated (K.S.A.) 60-253, which aligns with Rule 53 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The special master's role is to make the process more efficient and to provide recommendations to the judge on how to resolve discovery-related disputes. The use of a special master is at the discretion of the court and is intended to aid in the fair and expeditious management of cases that present extraordinary challenges beyond the usual legal issues.