Karen Fahr - August 2, 2016

Are you ready to pull your hair out trying to figure out how to plan a U.S. depo in another country? Rest assured that international depositions happen all the time and organizing one can be a simple, stress-free process. Simply follow these three essential tips and you can have a tidy and successful deposition abroad – benefiting your clients and your bottom line.

Tip 1: Plan ahead

Planning an international deposition requires time. We recommended giving yourself a four week leeway.  Of course, it’s possible to work within a shorter timeframe, but it’s imperative to understand the differences between planning a domestic deposition versus one abroad.
In the United States, court reporters are readily available on the same day, simply by making a few phone calls. It’s key to know that very few foreign countries have the same procedures in place for discovery and evidence-taking as we do. This means that verbatim court reporters and legal videographers are a rare commodity abroad. You might be surprised to know that some countries don’t have any court reporters or deposition providers at all.
Before you panic, here’s where working with a reputable international deposition agency can help you coordinate all the logistics. Bringing us to tip number two.

Tip 2: Partner with a knowledgeable agency

Partnering with a court reporting agency that specializes in international depositions will take a lot of the work off of your plate and ensure that potential issues related to your international deposition are anticipated and handled in advance. A good agency can be a useful resource for locating the closest possible providers with the proper certifications for your deposition.
By working with a locally-based team in the country or region where your deposition will be held offers two major solutions –  reducing travel expenses, and providing invaluable local knowledge.

Tip 3: Anticipate higher costs

International depositions often carry a higher cost than domestic depos. Why? Mostly because foreign courts do not rely on verbatim transcripts to the extent that we do in the United States; making qualified court reporters in limited supply and in high demand. A knowledgeable international deposition agency can be a useful resource for locating the best English-speaking and certified local service providers – keeping costs as low as possible.
Should you have further questions, or queries related to organizing U.S. depositions in a specific country or region, we are happy to help you personally. Please do not hesitate to contact us anytime.

About Us

Optima Juris has been helping law offices across the globe find the highest quality certified court reporters, legal videographers, and interpreters for over 15 years. If you should have any questions about international depositions, please do not hesitate to contact us or fill out a free quote to see how we can make your international deposition a complete success.