# Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.030: 491.030 Adverse party may be compelled to testify in civil cases

> Missouri · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.030

## Section

- **Citation:** Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.030
- **Heading:** 491.030 Adverse party may be compelled to testify in civil cases
- **Jurisdiction:** Missouri
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MO Code / Chapter 491 / Section 491.030

## Text

491.030. Adverse party may be compelled to testify in civil cases. — Any party to any civil action or proceeding may compel any adverse party, or any person for whose immediate and adverse benefit such action or proceeding is instituted, prosecuted or defended, to testify as a witness in his behalf, in the same manner and subject to the same rules as other witnesses; provided, that the party so called to testify may be examined by the opposite party, under the rules applicable to the cross-examination of witnesses.

(RSMo 1939 § 1889) Prior revisions: 1929 § 1725; 1919 § 5412; 1909 § 6356 (1969) Held, the exception to the rule that a party may not impeach his own witness exists where the witness is confronted with his own prior inconsistent statement. Wells v. Gofort (Mo. Banc), 443 S.W.2d 155. (1976) Held, where plaintiff called defendant as his witness he is not bound by his testimony unless it is the only testimony in the case on that point. Lamb v. Heiligers (A.), 532 S.W.2d 820.

## Nearby sections

- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.010 491.010 Witness's interest does not disqualify — exception — statements of deceased ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.010.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.015 491.015 Victim or witness in certain cases not to be interrogated as to prior ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.015.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.016 491.016 Otherwise inadmissible witness statement admissible in criminal proceeding, ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.016.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.030 491.030 Adverse party may be compelled to testify in civil cases.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.030.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.040 491.040 Sections 491.010 and 491.030 construed.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.040.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.050 491.050 Convicts competent witnesses — convictions and certain pleas may be proved ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.050.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.060 491.060 Persons incompetent to testify — exceptions, children in certain cases.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.060.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.065 491.065 Informants, disclosure requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.065.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.070 491.070 Cross-examination of witnesses — scope.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.070.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.074 491.074 Prior inconsistent statement may be admissible in criminal cases as ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.074.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.075 491.075 Statement of child under eighteen or vulnerable person admissible, when.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.075.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.078 491.078 Juvenile court adjudication, use to affect credibility — sexual offense ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.078.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.080 491.080 Testimony of witness not to be used to convict him of fraud.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.080.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.090 491.090 Summons of witnesses — procedure — consequences of failure to appear.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.090.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.030. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.