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 Nevada, a special master or master in chancery is appointed by the court to assist with complex aspects of a lawsuit, particularly during the discovery phase. This appointment is typically made under circumstances where the issues at hand require detailed examination of technical and complex documents that necessitate expertise beyond the usual legal knowledge. The appointment of a special master is justified when the conditions are exceptional, such as when the discovery process involves highly technical information that requires someone with both technical and legal expertise. The role of the special master is to oversee the discovery process, which may include managing depositions, written questions, and the production of documents, and to make recommendations to the judge on resolving disputes related to these matters. The use of a special master is intended to streamline the legal process and provide specialized support to the court in resolving intricate legal issues.