Karen Fahr - October 20, 2020

Yes, you can hold a (virtual) deposition 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, and this is a good option for attorneys who are unable to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Check out our Covid-19 International Deposition Planning tool to obtain up-to-date country restrictions for travel, workplace, and gatherings.

What are your remote options for your deposition 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 court reporters in England, they are in limited supply and can sometimes be booked up far into the future.

Use local videographers, court reporters and interpreters

When possible you always want to go local. Local court reporters, legal videographers, and interpreters provide a level of comfort that your deposition will have the clearest record. Plus, our local court reporters are trained in remote depositions, so it’s a win-win!

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.