Most depositions are held in one of three places: the noticing attorney's own office, a conference room offered by the court-reporting firm, or a rented deposition room. Your office costs nothing extra but brings the other side into your space. A reporter's room is convenient when you are already using that firm and it has a room where you need one. A rented room is neutral ground, booked on its own terms, at a price you can see up front: at Depo Pros, from $125 an hour.
Whichever you choose, the place has to fit the rules for your case first. This guide covers that briefly, then compares the three options side by side.
First, the place has to work under the rules
The deposition notice states where the deposition will be taken. In federal court, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(b)(1) requires reasonable written notice that states the time and place. In Pennsylvania state court, Pa.R.C.P. 4007.1(b) likewise requires the notice to state the time and place. California adds distance limits based on where the deponent lives; see where a deposition can be held in California.
If the parties cannot agree on a place, the court can set the time and place when it rules on a motion for a protective order (for example Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(c)(1)(B) and Pa.R.C.P. 4012). In practice, counsel usually settle the location informally before the notice goes out.
The three options side by side
| Your office | Court reporter's office | Rented deposition room | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to you | No room charge; your staff time and your conference room's day | Ask the firm whether a room comes with their reporting or is billed separately | Published rates: $125/hr, $450 half day, $850 full day (standard room) |
| Neutral ground | No: the other side comes to you | Usually neutral, but tied to that reporting firm | Yes: neither side's office |
| Privacy for your files and team | Your staff, files and other clients are down the hall | Depends on the space | Nothing of yours on site except what you bring |
| Break and caucus space | Your other offices, if free | Ask what is available | Add a client meeting room for $50/hr |
| Booking | Your own calendar | Usually booked together with the reporter | Book online; confirmed when you pay; 2 business days' notice online |
| Video and remote participants | Whatever your room has | Ask the firm | Videoconference-ready; large display in the Large Deposition Room |
| Court reporter | Any reporter you choose | Usually that firm's reporter | Any reporter you choose, or a referral to an independent one |
When your own office makes sense
Your office is the natural choice when the witness is your own client or a friendly witness, the conference room comfortably seats everyone, and you do not mind opposing counsel spending the day in your space. It is also the simplest option for a short deposition with few parties.
It is a weaker choice when the deposition is contentious, when several parties and a videographer need more room than you have, or when you need your conference room for other work that day. Remember the breaks too: opposing counsel will need somewhere private to confer that is not next to your team.
When the court reporter's office makes sense
If you are already booking a reporting firm that has a conference room where you need it, using that room keeps everything in one booking. Before you rely on it, ask the same questions you would ask any venue: how many people it seats, whether there is a second room for breaks, how remote participants join, what it costs and what happens if you cancel.
The trade-off is that the room and the reporter usually come as a package. If you prefer a different reporter, or the firm's room is in the wrong part of town for the witness, you will need a room elsewhere.
When a rented deposition room makes sense
A rented room is the usual answer when you want neutral ground, when the parties are coming from different places, or when your own office is too small, too far or not available. It also separates the room from the reporter, so you can use whichever reporter you like.
- Contentious or multi-party depositions: neither side hosts, and a Large Deposition Room seats up to 12.
- Out-of-town counsel: a room near the courts or the witness, booked without a local office.
- Video depositions: space for the videographer's camera and lighting in the Large Deposition Room.
- Mediations: a joint-session room plus a client meeting room for each side; see mediation room vs deposition room.
Depo Pros has rooms in Los Angeles (Downtown, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica) and Philadelphia (Center City). The 2-hour minimum applies, the half-day or full-day rate is used whenever it costs less, there is no booking fee, and cancelling at least 24 hours before the start gets a full refund.
A quick way to decide
- Check that the location fits the rules for your case and the deponent.
- Count everyone at the table, plus a videographer if the deposition is recorded.
- Ask whether the deposition is likely to be friendly or contentious.
- Decide whether you need a private room for breaks or caucuses.
- Pick the option that meets all four; if it is a rented room, book it and put the full address, suite and time zone in the notice.
Sources: Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26(c)(1)(B) and 30(b)(1); Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure 4007.1(b) and 4012; California Code of Civil Procedure section 2025.250. 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.
Quick answers
- Can a deposition be held at the court reporter's office?
- Yes, if that is the place stated in the notice and it fits the rules for your case. Some reporting firms offer a conference room; ask whether it comes with their reporting or is billed separately.
- Who decides where a deposition takes place?
- The party taking the deposition states the place in the notice, within the rules for the case. If the parties cannot agree, the court can set the time and place on a motion for a protective order.
- How much does it cost to rent a deposition room?
- At Depo Pros, the standard Deposition Room is $125 an hour, $450 for a half day and $850 for a full day; the Large Deposition Room is $150, $550 and $1,050. 2-hour minimum, no booking fee.
- Do I have to use your court reporter if I rent your room?
- No. Depo Pros rents rooms and is not a court-reporting agency. Bring any reporter you like, or ask for a referral to an independent reporter, who quotes and bills you directly.
Need a room?
Published prices, live availability, confirmed on payment. Questions first? Call (213) 232-3820.