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 Georgia, a special master or master in chancery can be appointed by the court to assist with complex aspects of a lawsuit, particularly during the discovery phase. This appointment is typically made under exceptional circumstances where the issues at hand require detailed examination of technical and complex documents that would benefit from the expertise of an individual with both technical and legal knowledge. The role of the special master is to oversee the discovery process, which may include managing depositions, written questions, and the production of documents. They also provide recommendations to the judge on how to resolve disputes related to the discovery. The use of a special master is governed by the Georgia Civil Practice Act and the discretion of the court, and their appointment is intended to streamline the legal process and provide specialized assistance in cases that present extraordinary challenges.