Many lawyers are concerned about how to deal with an expert witness. Interestingly enough, the same rules and concepts that apply to questions for lay witnesses, also apply to an expert witness. If you properly ask the questions, you can control the flow of information. Direct examination will always start with a “w” (who, what, where, why and when) or “how” or “describe.” That is how lay witnesses are examined and that’s how expert witnesses are examined.

The kind of experts we see in family law include psychologists, psychiatrists, business appraisers, social workers, and realtors, as well as appraisers for “stuff” like coins, furniture or cars.