Court Reporting and Depositions in Greece

Allowing enough time (roughly between 4-6 weeks is ideal) for scheduling depositions in Greece is extremely important because of the logistics associated with the scheduling and planning processes. However, with teams living on-the-ground throughout Europe, we are often able to cover last-minute requests.

Counsel will determine whether their witness is willing to be deposed. If so, both parties can agree to stipulate the oath and begin the process of setting up the deposition.

Greece is a party to The Hague Evidence Convention.  Prior permission for taking depositions of citizens of Greece is required.  If you need assistance, contact the Planet Depos International Scheduling Department.

For specific information, please consult the U.S. State Department for Judicial Assistance.

1. Select the deposition services needed:
   • U.S.-trained court reporter
   • U.S.-trained legal videographer
   • Any language interpreter
2. What is the location of the deposition in Greece?
   • Do you need Planet Depos to reserve a conference room for you?
3. If not participating in person, do you require videoconferencing services? (If not, please skip to the next item on the checklist).
   • Do you need a location in Greece?
   • Will you need a location in the United States?
   • Can you attend from your firm’s videoconference suite?
   • Ask about Planet Depos’ Mobile Videoconferencing capabilities!
   • Document Production
   • Do you need assistance with exhibit printing?
4. Select your deposition date
   • Start time
   • End time
5. Visa Restrictions:
   • There is no visa required for travel to Greece at this time; however, your passport must be valid for 90 days beyond your intended period of stay.  It is highly recommended that you have at least 6-months’ validity past the point of your return to the U.S. on your passport for travel to any European country.  You may also need a return ticket and have proof of sufficient funds. For more information, please consult the U.S. State Department or contact Planet Depos’ International Scheduling Department.
6. Make travel arrangements
   • Flight
   • Lodging
   • Contact Planet Depos for information about corporate discounts with our partner hotels
   • Car rental
7. Send a protective order to Planet Depos for representatives to sign (if applicable)
8. Have you filled out the Planet Depos Standing Order Form? It’s an easy process that takes less than 60 seconds and will let us know:
   • Transcript turnaround time (regular or expedited)
   • Who should receive the Rough ASCII and final transcript
   • The number of realtime laptops that are needed
   • Preferred video format (DVD, MPEG1, Loaded DVD, Synchronized Viewer)
9. Send out Notice of Deposition to all counsel, your witness, and Planet Depos
10. Send prep materials to Planet Depos for reporter’s deposition preparation:
    • Notice of deposition
    • Complaint
    • Subpoena
    • Previous transcript(s)
    • Word index
11. Obtain emergency contact information for Planet Depos representatives
12. Provide emergency contact information of counsel

Travel safely to Greece and contact Planet Depos with any questions once you’ve arrived!

Did you know?  The official name of Greece is “Hellenic Republic.”

With teams living on the ground in Europe, Planet Depos offers 24/7 assistance for all of your deposition needs in Greece. Our teams have been covering depositions in Greece for over 15 years, earning the reputation of one of the leading experts in the scheduling process, travel, and document assistance there. We would be more than happy to share our expertise and guide you through the logistical and procedural processes to ensure a successful deposition in Greece.

Entry Requirements for Greece
Greece does not require a tourist or business visa for stays of less than 90 days. You will need a passport valid for at least 90 days beyond the date of departure from Greece, and Planet Depos strongly recommends traveling with a passport valid no less than 6 months beyond your departure from Greece. You will need one blank passport page for your entry stamp. Planet Depos does recommend having at least 2 blank pages, however. Most flights from the Unites States do include a stopover in another country, so you will need to check any country or countries you pass through to determine if a separate transit visa is required.

For more information, you may also contact the Greek Embassy in the United States (2217 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC 20008):

Greek Embassy

Flying to Greece

There is one major international airport in Greece:

• Athens International Airport (ATH) – Athens (Athens Airport)

Some airlines offer direct flights to Greece, including:

• Air France (www.airfrance.us)
• Delta (www.delta.com)
• Alitalia (http://www.alitalia.com/us_en/)

Travel to Greece

For updated travel alerts and information, please visit the State Department’s webpage at:

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/greece.html

You can also download the SmartTravel App for your smartphone created by the U.S. Department of State.

Staying in Greece

There are many locations to take depositions in Greece. For example, Athens offers many deluxe hotels to meet your conference room and lodging needs. Planet Depos has established relationships with many hotels throughout Europe, and we can gladly assist with your conference room needs and hotel recommendations.

Medical Information for Greece
There are many medical facilities with English-speaking personnel throughout Greece. For a list of these facilities, and additional medical/emergency information, please go to:

U.S. Embassy – Greece

For updated health information, including health travel alerts and immunizations, please visit Greece specific website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at:

CDC – Greece

Money Matters
Greece’s currency is the Euro. ATMs are widely available and offer the most generous exchange rate. Major credit cards are also widely accepted.

For up-to-date information on the local conversion rate, please visit a reputable currency converter website such as http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/, which also offers an app for smartphones.

Weather
Greece has a Mediterranean climate, with plenty of sunshine and mild temperatures. Summers are dry and hot, but there are seasonal cooling winds. The mountainous regions have lower temperatures. Winters are mild, with a minimum of snow and ice. The mountainous regions are typically covered in snow during winter, however. For more information on Greek weather, please visit www.meteo.gr.

Websites to visit
Embassy of the United States in Athens, Greece

U.S. Embassy – Greece

App Store for your iPhone:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/ios-travel/id6003?mt=8

App Store for your Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps?hl=en

Interesting Grecian Fact
The highest point in Greece is Mt. Olympus, appropriately, as this was the home of the gods of ancient Greece.