Court Reporting in the United Kingdom
Whether your deposition is held in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, Planet Depos has qualified court reporters and videographers available to cover all of your proceeding needs.
The United Kingdom is a member of the Hague Evidence Convention, and prior permission from the U.K. government is not required for willing witnesses.
Depositions in the U.K. can be taken in much the same way as depositions held in the U.S.:
Three things to consider:
- There are far fewer court reporters in the U.K., and their schedules can fill up many weeks in advance. Four to six weeks’ lead time is preferred when scheduling your depositions.
- Thinking of flying in a reporter from the U.S.? This is highly discouraged, as work permits are required for U.S. court reporters to enter the country, and such visas are very rarely granted.
- Court reporters are not authorized to administer the oath in the U.K., so the oath will need to be stipulated on the record. Another option is to hire a U.K. attorney to administer the oath, which can be very costly.
How We Can Help
- U.S.-trained court reporters and videographers throughout the United Kingdom.
- Vetted interpreters with extensive deposition experience.
- On-the-ground assistance to handle exhibit printing, shredding, and other administrative needs.
- 24/7 support.
Our Services
Conference Rooms
Providing conference rooms for depositions, arbitration, or meetings anywhere on the Planet
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More Information About the U.K.
Party to The Hague Evidence Convention? Yes
Currency: Pound Sterling
Time Zone: GMT
Airport: Heathrow Airport (LHR) in London
U.S. Visa Requirements? None
U.S. State Department Website: United Kingdom
Depositions In the U.K. Checklist
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
Allowing a good amount of time (roughly between 4-6 weeks is ideal) for scheduling overseas depositions, but many times, with the constantly evolving logistics associated with taking a deposition, last-minute scheduling is necessary and something we at Planet Depos are accustomed to handling.
Counsel will need to determine whether or not 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.
The United Kingdom is a party to The Hague Evidence Convention. Prior approval is not required to take a deposition of a willing witness. If the witness is unwilling to be deposed and is in need of being compelled to testify, a subpoena by Order of the High Court of London 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.
- Select the deposition services needed:
- U.S.-trained court reporter
- U.S.-trained legal videographer
- Any language interpreter
- What is the location of the deposition in the U.K.?
- Do you need Planet Depos to reserve a conference room for you?
- 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 the U.K.?
- 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?
- Select your deposition date
- Start time
- End time
- Visa Restrictions:
- There is no visa required for travel to the United Kingdom at this time. 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. For more information, please consult the U.S. State Department or contact Planet Depos’ International Team.
- Make travel arrangements
- Flight
- Lodging
- Contact Planet Depos for information about corporate discounts with our partner hotels
- Car rental
- Send a protective order to Planet Depos for representatives to sign (if applicable)
- 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)
- Send out Notice of Deposition to all counsel, your witness, and Planet Depos
- Send prep materials to Planet Depos for reporter’s deposition preparation:
- Notice of deposition
- Complaint
- Subpoena
- Previous transcript(s)
- Word index
- Obtain emergency contact information for Planet Depos representatives
- Provide emergency contact information of counsel
Travel safely to the United Kingdom and contact Planet Depos with any questions once you’ve arrived!
Planet Depos Court Etiquette Tip: Always refer to the Sheriff as, “My Lord” and remember to bow when the judge enters the court if you’re in a Crown Court.
Did you know? The United Kingdom’s official name is “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.”
Travel Tips U.K.
With teams living on the ground in both continental Europe and the U.K., Planet Depos offers 24/7 assistance for all of your deposition needs in the U.K. Our teams have been covering depositions in the U.K. 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 the U.K.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM
The U.K. does not require a tourist visa for stays of less than 90 days. You will need a passport valid at the time of entry, and Planet Depos strongly recommends traveling with a passport valid no less than 6 months post your departure date from the U.K. You need 1 blank passport page for your entry stamp. However, Planet Depos recommends traveling with at least 2 blank passport pages. There are several direct flights from the U.S. to the U.K.
For more information, you may also contact the British Embassy in the United States (3100 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington DC 20008): British Embassy
FLYING TO THE UNITED KINGDOM
There are 3 major international airports in the United Kingdom:
- London Heathrow Airport (LHR) – London (Heathrow)
- Belfast International Airport (BFS) – Belfast (Belfast)
- Manchester International Airport (MAN) – Manchester (Manchester)
Airlines offering direct flights to the United Kingdom include:
- British Airways (www.britishairways.com)
- Delta (www.delta.com)
- United (www.unitedairlines.com)
- American Airlines (www.aa.com)
TRAVEL IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
For updated travel alerts and information, please visit the State Department’s webpage.
You can also download the SmartTravel App for your smartphone created by the U.S. Department of State.
Staying in the United Kingdom
There are many locations to take depositions in the U.K. For example, London offers many deluxe hotels to meet your conference room and lodging needs. Planet Depos has established relationships with many hotels throughout the U.K., and we will gladly assist with your conference room needs and hotel recommendations.
Medical Information for the United Kingdom
There are several excellent medical facilities in the U.K. For a list of these facilities, and additional medical/emergency information, please go to:
For updated health information, including health travel alerts and immunizations, please visit U.K. specific website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at:
Money Matters
The U.K. uses the pound. However, notes issued by the Bank of England are not legal tender outside of England and Wales, and notes issued by Ulster Bank are not legal tender outside of Northern Ireland. In any event, American Express, MasterCard, and Visa are all widely accepted throughout the U.K. ATMS are also widely available.
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
The U.K. experiences very changeable weather. Extreme temperatures are rare, however. Summers tend to be warm and damp, while summers are mild. The U.K. is notorious for rain, but it rarely rains for longer than 2 to 3 hours at a time. Overcast skies are more common. Scotland and northwestern England are often rainy and cold. The northeast and Midlands are cool but have less rain. The southeast is generally warm and dry, while the southeast is usually warm but wet. Wales and Northern Ireland have cool temperatures and moderate rainfall.