Karen Fahr - June 23, 2020

No need to travel to enjoy our latest virtual journey through England’s best kept secret destinations.

Whisk yourself away with our latest digital escape through England’s enchanting countryside. Get to know why this marvelous destination is a hotspot for international depositions.
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Yes, you can hold a U.S. depo in England

Taking U.S. depositions in England is permissible and in general, you can depose willing witnesses in England without any special formalities or involvement of foreign courts. Depositions in England can take place remotely or at the venue of your choosing. Check out our Covid-19 International Deposition Planning tool to obtain up-to-date country restrictions for travel, workplace, and gatherings.

Here is the official statement from the U.S. Department of State:

“Voluntary depositions of willing witnesses in civil and commercial matters are permitted regardless of the nationality of the witness. Oral depositions or depositions on written questions may be taken by U.S. consular officers or by private attorneys at the U.S. Embassy or at another location such as a hotel or office, either on notice or pursuant to a commission. If the services of a U.S. consular officer are required to administer an oath to the witness, interpreter and stenographer, such arrangements must be made in advance with the U.S. embassy directly.”

Remote Deposition Options

Remote depositions allow you to conduct your depo without the cost or hassle of traveling to the witness in England.

There are two options for conducting your remote deposition:

Court Reporter with the Witness – One of our local court reporters will travel to the location of the witness and capture a verbatim record of the proceeding while the attorneys attend remotely.
Court Reporter NOT with the Witness – The witness, court reporter, and attorneys are all in separate locations. Our certified and trained court reporters will capture a verbatim record of the proceeding using our state-of-the-art technology from a remote location.

Plan early

The golden rule that we always try to impress upon clients planning depositions abroad, is to be sure to plan as far in advance as possible. While there are great professionals in England, they are in limited supply and can sometimes be booked up far into the future.

Use local videographers, court reporters and interpreters

Another tip for a successful depo in England is finding the perfect local deposition services for your law firm. When possible you always want to go local. Local court reporters, legal videographers, and interpreters mean fewer travel costs and provide a level of expertise and experience that can’t be duplicated. It’s a win-win situation!

Helpful Links

Find Out More

Optima Juris has local court reporters in England and throughout Europe with extensive experience conducting U.S. depositions abroad. With over 20 years of providing local deposition services in England, we have more experience than any other firm on the planet! We are your go-to resource for any questions about setting up an international deposition and we love showing off our knowledge so don’t be shy about connecting with us.