A remote deposition uses videoconferencing to connect the witness, counsel, and court reporter from separate locations. The oath is administered remotely, and exhibits are shared electronically or delivered in advance.
The federal rules expressly permit remote depositions by stipulation or court order, and remote administration of the oath has been broadly accepted.
Alternative Names:
Virtual Deposition, Zoom Deposition
Why it Matters?
Remote depositions cut travel cost substantially and have made previously uneconomic depositions routine, particularly for records custodians and out-of-state witnesses. The tradeoffs are real: exhibit handling is clumsier, off-camera coaching is harder to detect, and the persuasive impact of video testimony is diminished. For a key adverse witness, the case for taking the deposition in person remains strong.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Can the oath be administered remotely?
How are exhibits handled remotely?
