A deposition needs two bookings that have to line up exactly: a room and a court reporter (and often a videographer). Book them in the wrong order and you end up with a room on a day the reporter cannot do, or a reporter on their way to an address that changed. Here is a simple way to do it once.
Who does what
- The room provider rents the space and tells everyone how to get in. Depo Pros is a room company.
- The court reporter swears the witness and produces the transcript. Certification and licensing requirements for reporters vary by state, so ask yours; many reporters work independently.
- A court-reporting agency schedules reporters and handles their billing, and some also arrange rooms.
Depo Pros is not a court-reporting agency. You can bring any reporter you like. If you would rather not find one, ask for a referral and we will introduce an independent reporter we work with regularly in that city and coordinate their availability with your room. You contract with the reporter and pay them directly; Depo Pros does not mark up or bill for reporting.
The order that avoids double work
- Agree two or three candidate dates with opposing counsel.
- Check those dates on the room calendar and note which rooms are free.
- Ask your reporter which of those dates they can cover, or request a referral for them.
- Book the room for the confirmed date. Payment confirms it immediately.
- Send the reporter your confirmation: the address, suite, start time, time zone and the arrival instructions.
- Serve the notice with the full address.
Shortcut: choose "Please refer a court reporter" when you book a room (there is a videographer option too), and our team will match your date, city and needs with a reporter and introduce you by email, usually the same business day. Online room bookings need at least 2 business days' notice; for anything sooner, call.
What to tell the reporter
Reporters quote and staff based on what you tell them. Send all of this in one email:
- Case caption and number.
- Date, start time, time zone and the full address with suite or floor.
- Expected length (half day, full day, or multiple days).
- Number of attorneys attending, and who is ordering the original and copies.
- Real-time, rough draft or expedited transcript needs.
- Whether the deposition will be videotaped (a separate videographer is common).
- Interpreter, if any, and the language.
- Remote participants and the platform you will use.
- How exhibits will be handled (pre-marked, electronic, paper).
- Billing contact.
What court reporting typically costs
Reporters set their own rates, which vary by market, turnaround and services. These are the typical ranges we publish to help you budget; they are not Depo Pros prices and not quotes.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Transcript, standard delivery (7 – 10 business days) | $4.00 – $7.00 per page |
| Major markets, such as California | $5.25 – $7.25 per page |
| Rush, 3–5 business days | +50% – 90% |
| Rush, next day | +100% – 130% |
| Rush, same day | +150% or more |
| Real-time rough draft | +$2.00 – $3.75 per page |
| Pages in a full-day deposition | 250 – 400 pages |
Appearance fees, exhibit handling and copies are typically billed separately by the reporter. See court reporter referrals for more.
Adding a videographer
For a video record, book a certified legal videographer (CLVS or AGCV) alongside the reporter. Tell them the room and its size; a Large Deposition Room has space for the camera, lighting and a second monitor without crowding counsel. We can refer a videographer too; see legal videography.
Remote participants
If any attorney, the witness or the reporter will join remotely, agree how that will work before the day, and check that your rules allow it. Our guide to remote and hybrid deposition setup covers the rules to check and what the room needs.
If you already use a reporting agency
Plenty of firms book reporters through an agency they trust, and that works fine with a Depo Pros room. Book the room first (or check availability on the calendar), then give the agency the confirmed address, suite, start time and time zone, and forward the arrival and access instructions. The agency staffs the reporter as usual and bills you as usual; the room is a separate booking with its own confirmation.
If the agency normally supplies a room as well, compare what you get: seats, a separate room for conferring, Wi-Fi, a display and the cancellation terms. Sometimes the agency's room is the easy choice; sometimes the location or the size matters more and a separate room is better for the witness.
Changes and cancellations
The room and the reporter have separate cancellation terms. A Depo Pros booking cancelled at least 24 hours before the start gets a full refund; later cancellations are credited toward a future booking within 12 months. Reporters set their own terms, so ask. If the date moves, move both bookings on the same day and resend the arrival instructions.
This guide is practical information, not legal advice. Rules on deposition notice, location, duration and remote attendance vary by court and jurisdiction and change over time; check the current rule for your case.
Need a room?
Published prices, live availability, confirmed on payment. Questions first? Call (213) 232-3820.