How Much Is Charged for a Deposition and What Is Charged For?
Reporting services will typically charge in the range between $3 to $4 per page for a transcript, but the cost of a deposition is not simply based on this one factor.
Most reporting services will also bill for the following services:
An appearance fee - $50 to $300 may be charged for the first hour of a reporter's services, and a lower rate may or may not be billed for each subsequent hour.
Transcript copy fee - some fraction of the per page cost for the original transcript will be charged for transcript copies. Perhaps in the range of $1 to $2.50 per page.
Expedited transcript - a reporter will charge between 30% to 100% above the standard rate to prepare a transcript in a shorter period of time. Reporters will typically be given 8-10 days to finalize a transcript. The rate might be doubled to get a transcript turned around in 1 day; or 70% more to have the transcript finalized in 3 days.
Exhibit copy fees - Copies of exhibits marked at the deposition may cost between $0.10 to $1.00 per page.
Video fee - A reporting service may charge between $150 to $500 to set up the audio-visual equipment needed. A lower charge will be billed for each hour the deposition takes after the first hour - perhaps between $50 to $200 per hour.
Synchronization fee - Some reporters will charge around $40 to $100 to synch the text of the transcript with the video, but often this charge is waived. Software has been developed which can largely automate the process.
Realtime connection - between $1.50 to $3.50 may be charged for a realtime feed to the reporter's transcript. A lower rate may be charged for each additional realtime connection.
Rough draft transcript - between $1.00 to $2.50 may be charged for a copy of the rough draft of the transcript in the form it exists when the deposition ends.
Additional fees may be charged for shipping hard copies of exhibits and transcripts; scanning and OCRing deposition exhibits; preparing copies of DVDs; digitizing a videotape as a MPEG video file; and overtime work on the deposition.
