How deposition pricing works: what you are paying for, line by line

Why invoices look the way they do

A court reporting invoice separates the reporter's time from the transcript itself, and separates the transcript from the services added around it. That is deliberate. It lets each party pay for what it actually ordered, lets a noticing party and a copy-ordering party be billed differently for the same deposition, and lets you see exactly where a rush or a video order changed the total.

Western Reporting Services charges the same rates to every party who orders the same service on a job, and we provide a written, itemized rate sheet to any client who asks. If a line on an invoice is unclear, call the office and a person who knows the job will explain it.

The appearance fee

The appearance fee pays for the reporter's time at the deposition: travel, setup, swearing the witness, taking the record, and managing exhibits. It is typically billed by the half day or full day, or hourly, and it applies whether or not a transcript is ultimately ordered, because the reporter's day was committed either way.

Appearance fees are usually paid by the party that noticed the deposition. Cancellation and late-change charges, where they apply, are generally tied to the appearance fee, which is why early notice of a cancelled deposition matters.

Per-page transcript charges

The transcript is priced per page, and there are two page rates: the original and the copy. The original rate is higher because it carries the reporter's editing, proofreading, certification, and exhibit handling. Copy rates are lower and are what the other parties pay for their own certified copies.

In most depositions the noticing party orders the original and the opposing parties order copies. Page count is driven by the length of the testimony and the standard transcript page format, which is why a full-day deposition produces a much larger invoice than a short one at the same per-page rate.

• Original per page: the noticing party's certified transcript with exhibits
• Copy per page: each additional party's certified copy
• Condensed and electronic formats: often included or priced as a small flat add-on
• Exhibit pages: scanned and attached, sometimes priced separately per page

Expedite and rough draft charges

Faster delivery is priced as a percentage uplift on the per-page rate, with each tier quoted before the work is done. Only the party that orders the expedite pays it; other parties can take standard delivery of their copies. Rough drafts are priced separately per page and are not certified. Our turnaround guide explains the tiers and when a rough draft can replace an expedite entirely.

Video, realtime, interpreters, and rooms

Everything beyond the reporter and the transcript is its own line, ordered and paid for only by the parties who want it.

• Legal videography: the videographer's time, typically hourly with a minimum, plus the recorded media and, if ordered, synchronization of video to the transcript
• Realtime: a per-page or per-connection charge for the live feed to each device, in addition to the transcript
• Interpreters: billed for the interpreter's time, usually hourly with a minimum, and arranged through our referral network
• Conference rooms: our Las Vegas rooms are available for depositions we report and are quoted when you book

Exhibits, delivery, and other line items

The remaining lines are small and predictable once you know what they are.

• Exhibit scanning and copying, by the page or by the set
• Read-and-sign handling, where the witness reviews the transcript and errata are attached
• Shipping or courier charges for paper originals and sealed exhibits
• Waiting time, when a deposition starts late or breaks run long
• Cancellation or late-change charges, where the reporter's committed time cannot be reassigned
• Any card processing fee, which is disclosed before you pay and never applies to payment by check

How to compare quotes

Reporting firms rarely differ on one headline number; they differ on what the number includes. A low per-page rate can be offset by separate charges for exhibits, electronic formats, or delivery that another firm folds in. Compare whole invoices for a typical deposition in your practice, not single lines.

• Ask for the complete written rate sheet, not a verbal quote
• Compare the original and copy rates separately; you will pay each on different jobs
• Ask what the per-page rate includes: exhibits, condensed copy, electronic formats, portal delivery
• Ask how expedite tiers are priced and whether a rough draft is available
• Ask about minimums on appearance, video, and interpreter time
• Ask about cancellation and late-change terms before you need them
• Ask whether the firm is independent or part of a national network, because that affects who you reach when something goes wrong

Paying your invoice

Invoices are emailed with a link to pay online, and you can also pay by card from this site or through the client portal, or by check to our office. Every payment posts to your firm's account, and the portal shows invoices and payment history. Questions about an invoice go to the same office that produced the transcript, by phone, during business hours.

Common questions

Do you publish your rates?

We provide a complete, itemized written rate sheet to any client who asks, and we charge the same rates to every party ordering the same service on a job. Call the office or ask when you schedule and we will send it the same day.

Who pays for the deposition?

In most cases the party that noticed the deposition pays the appearance fee and orders the original transcript, and each other party pays for its own copy and any services it ordered. Your case or your agreement with opposing counsel may allocate costs differently; your attorney will know.

Why is the original more expensive than a copy?

The original rate carries the reporter's editing, proofreading, certification, and exhibit handling for the whole job. Copies are produced from that finished original, so they are priced lower.

What happens to the invoice if the deposition is cancelled?

It depends on how much notice we receive and whether the reporter's time can be reassigned. Call as soon as you know. We will tell you immediately whether any cancellation or late-change charge applies under our terms.

Can I pay online?

Yes. Pay by card from the link on your invoice, from this site, or through the client portal. Checks are welcome too. Any card processing fee is shown before you confirm the payment.