Virtual Tour Through Frankfurt; International Depo Locales Series

Karen Fahr - May 12, 2020

Our second international deposition virtual journey takes us to Frankfurt, a charming corner of Germany.

Whisk yourself away with our latest digital escape through Frankfurt and surrounding countryside. Get to know why this marvelous destination is a hotspot for international depositions.

How to schedule a deposition in Germany

Taking U.S. depositions in Germany is permissible. However, all depositions must take place on the U.S. Consulate grounds in Frankfurt.

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

Voluntary depositions may be conducted in Germany before a U.S. consular officer only at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt. Bilateral agreements between Germany and the United States require that the German Ministry of Justice pre-approve all requests for depositions. Depositions taken without the prior approval of the German Ministry of Justice and/or without the involvement of the United States Mission to Germany are unauthorized and may lead to criminal penalties against the participants. In addition, the German Ministry of Justice requires that all depositions take place on U.S. Consulate grounds and that the oaths be administered by a U.S. Consul. See specific guidance prepared by the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt regarding German requirements for the taking of depositions. When permission is granted by the German Ministry of Justice, voluntary depositions may be taken at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt either on notice or pursuant to a commission. Details on the procedures may be found on the U.S. Mission to Germany’s website.

Deposition Options for Germany

Attend in Person
All U.S. depos in Germany must take place on the U.S. Consulate grounds in Frankfurt. The consulate has limited appointment slots and may require extended lead times. Conference room plus consular fees in Frankfurt may exceed $1000/day.

Move to a Nearby Country
If you are under time constraints and don’t have six weeks ahead of time to plan, moving your deposition outside of Germany to a neighboring country is a good way to expedite.  U.S. deposition friendly countries like Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, or Italy are less restrictive than Germany and travel is relatively hassle-free in Europe.

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

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

Did you know that Optima Juris has locally-based court reporters in Germany? That means little to no travel costs for you depending on your depo location.

Useful Links

About Optima Juris

Optima Juris is the only U.S. agency exclusively dedicated to international depositions. We have been helping law offices across the globe find the highest-quality certified court reporters, legal videographers, and interpreters for over 20 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.

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