Depositions may be conducted in the Czech Republic regardless of the witness’ nationality, provided no compulsion is used. (This makes the Czech Republic an excellent venue to depose a willing Austrian witness, as Austria does not permit the taking of depositions.) There are no restrictions on where depositions can be taken in the Czech Republic. To further simplify matters, the Czech Republic doesn’t require a visa for stays of less than 90 days. You must have a passport valid for at least 90 days beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area.
The Czech capital city of Prague is famous for its charm and beauty (and beer; Czechs have the highest beer consumption rate in the world), making it a top tourist destination. Prague has the means of comfortably playing host to your Czech depositions and commanding you to get there a little early or stay a little late to enjoy at least a fraction of the city’s magnificence. Walk through Old Town Square, fall under the spell of Prague Castle and the surrounding landscape, and try a local beer! Knowing a few Czech words can make your stay in Prague that much more pleasant, as locals appreciate foreigners trying to speak their language. For greetings, the phrase “Dobrý den!” means “Good day!” “Thank you” is “Děkuji” and “You’re welcome” is “Prosím.”
For your depositions, an interpreter will likely be needed, and a court reporting firm seasoned by years of scheduling depositions throughout Europe will be able to find the experienced interpreter best suited to your case. Resumes from only top-rate interpreters will be sent for your consideration. Your court reporting firm will also ensure the interpreter receives any protective orders for the case, as well as all prep materials, to be certain the interpreter is up to speed and provides seamless interpretation for your depositions.
Likewise, you can expect an expert reporter and videographer for your depositions from a court reporting firm well established in Europe. Experienced court reporters and legal videographers live throughout Europe and cover depositions and arbitrations all over the continent. Your realtime reporter will deliver an immediate verbatim record of the proceeding so you can view the testimony as it is spoken, with astonishing accuracy. The reporter can even provide a laptop for you to view the realtime feed, which can also be streamed to approved participants. Your videographer will shoot the entire proceedings in digital high-definition format, while simultaneously recording a video and audio backup to a DVD recorder. Any technical issues which may arise will be immediately resolved onsite by your videographer.
