Depositions in Divorce Cases

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Shari Broussard

CRC Handles Divorce Depositions Throughout Maryland

 

As a court reporting agency, it’s safe to say that of all the different types of depositions we cover, depositions in divorce cases are, well, the most “spirited.” The parties are extremely involved, and the fireworks frequently go off when a husband and wife are fighting it out in a legal proceeding. Divorce lawyers in Maryland, especially divorce lawyers in Montgomery County practice in a high net worth area. This means that the stakes are high, and tempers can flare.

In a deposition, most topics are fair game – including sex, drugs, and alcohol. Sounds like an 80s rock song, right? Generally the lawyers are pretty free to “discover” almost anything. There are not permitted to go on a fishing expedition, but short of that, there really aren’t too many restrictions. The kids, sexual infidelity, marital habits, etc. are all permissible topics for questions. The deposition in a divorce case can last hours, and can take its toll on the litigants.

In one famous case, Kim Kardashian’s divorce deposition reportedly lasted 9 hours, and her husband Kris Humphries did not even show up. This is definitely much, much longer than a typical deposition. Apparently in the deposition she also had some quite funny lines. When asked what she loved about her ex, she said, “He’s super tall so he makes me look super small and petite. I also love how his proposal looked super, super sweet on TV. Thanks GOD because we had to do it twice…”

In the real world, most divorce depositions don’t last that long, and don’t involve too many famous people. In general, the depositions tend to last a half day or so, and are pretty tedious. If there are custody and complex property issues, then the depositions may take longer. Nevertheless, they can be very, very stressful. In the Washington metropolitan area, some of the most intense proceedings involve divorce lawyers in Maryland.

Deposition & Court Reporting Services

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Shari Broussard

Capital Reporting Company Provides Washington DC With A Variety of High Quality Court Reporting Services

Deposition Videography, Videoconferencing, Court Reporting & More

You’ve got a deposition in Washington, DC and you’re looking for a court reporter. Maybe you’re new to the area, maybe you’re coming in from out of town, or maybe you just don’t have a specific court reporter or court reporting agency that you work with regularly. So, what do you do? Where do you look? And with so many options, how do you know which is the best one to choose?

There are several things to consider when you’re looking for a court reporter or court reporting agency. But first and foremost, your court reporting agency should make your job easier. You want to focus on taking a deposition. You don’t want to worry about whether your court reporter is going to show up on time, or where your transcript is. At Capital Reporting Company, we assign a specific Case Manager to your account and his/her primary focus is making sure that you and your staff receive what you need, when you need it. And that commitment shows. Capital Reporting Company consistently receives high marks from its clients on timeliness and accuracy – evidenced by the fact that we were voted the #1 Best Court Reporting Agency by Washington DC attorneys in the 2013 Legal Times survey!

Quality matters and so does your time. Make sure you consider what technology a court reporting agency offers, both at the deposition and afterward. Just because your deposition is in Washington DC, doesn’t mean you gave to be too! Capital Reporting Company offers many technology solutions to help save you time (and your client money!) such as Realtime (including web-based video and text streaming), and the highest quality videography and videoconferencing options. Additionally, Capital offers an entire suite of LitConnect services where you can view your calendar, schedule depositions, and download transcripts from the convenience of your desk, your home, and even your phone.

There are a lot of options to choose from when looking for a court reporter or court reporting agency in Washington DC, so do your due diligence! Make sure the company that you choose places a high premium on quality, accuracy, technology, and – most importantly – you!

Why You Should Invest In A Quality Court Reporting Company

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Court Reporting Company DC | Why A Cheap One Will Lose You a Case

Why would you hire a court reporting company in Washington, DC? If you find yourself involved in litigation, having a skilled court reporter, a capable videographer, and thorough case management services are only a few reasons. If you decide to hire a quality court reporting company, the DC litigation experience is much less likely to be a source of stress. However, if you employ a cheap or under-experienced court reporting agency, DC legal system will make you anxious and tense.

Court Reporting Company DC | Why You Should Invest

It’s simply not worth saving a few bucks by investing in a novice court reporting company in Washington DC. The best agencies in our nation’s capital exhibit most if not all of these characteristics together with offering national and international court reporting services:

  • Approved to engage with government clients
  • Have experience in a wide array of litigation experience
  • Provide court reporters, videographers, and interpreters
  • Incorporate technology to streamline your legal process
  • Submit accurate legal transcripts
  • State-of-the-art videoconferencing systems

Yes, it’s true – these features of a quality court reporting company will still come at a reasonable price. However, it’s very likely that a cheaper or less-experienced court reporting agency won’t provide even half of the above services.

A court reporting company without a range of litigation experience might not have seen your exact type of court case. This may lead to oversights and a lost case.

A court reporting agency that doesn’t incorporate technology will slow down your legal process, an already naturally slow development. This may lead to even more legal fees, not to mention your valuable time.

A court reporting company that doesn’t offer it’s services nationally may not be able to provide you litigation support at the location of your trial. This means the legal backing you’re paying for won’t be of any help when you’re in the courtroom.

Investing in a cheap, inexperienced court reporting company in Washington DC will cause more legal frustration than you think.

Washington DC Court Reporting – What It Takes To Be Successful

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Jill Cohen

How To Become A Washington DC Court Reporter

Skills, Education & Certification Tips For Court Reporters

 

So, you’re interested in becoming a court reporter in Washington DC? Great! Court reporting is an interesting career that can be financially rewarding as well – court reporters make a nice living on their salary, especially those who are highly-qualified. With projected employment of court reporters to grow by 14% from 2010 to 2020 and over 80,000 lawyers in the Washington DC metropolitan area, court reporting is a stable career choice in high demand. But what does it really take to become a court reporter?

 

Skill Set

 

Court reporting requires high-level attention to detail as well as the ability to focus for long periods of time. Additionally, court reporters must have a superior command of the English language (e.g. grammar, spelling, punctuation). Legal professionals often use specialized legal and/or medical jargon during depositions and court hearings, so court reporters must also be well-versed in legal terminology. Not an English scholar or law school grad? Not to worry. As part of their curriculum, most court reporting programs spend a significant amount of time focused on improving students’ grammar and punctuation. These programs also offer courses dedicated to legal and medical terminology as well as anatomy to help expand your working vocabulary.

 

Education

 

While there are no brick and mortar court reporting schools located in Washington DC, there are a large number of online programs available. The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) has a list of court reporter training programs that have met the General Requirements and Minimum Standards (GRMS) established by the NCRA’s Council on Approved Student Education (CASE), thereby earning a “NCRA Certified” designation.

Programs focusing on mask or digital recording may be as short as 6 months, while programs in which students are taught to use stenotype machines may last 2 to 4 years. Stenography programs may lead to an Associate’s degree and typically cover the principles of machine shorthand writing, instruction using computer-aided transcription (CAT) and RealTime software, and live simulation of deposition and court proceedings.

 

Certification

 

The need for a court reporter to be certified and/or licensed varies by state, but Washington DC is among those that do not require certification for freelance court reporters. However, certification can be a differentiator when seeking employment, as a certified court reporter may be more highly regarded and has the potential to accumulate greater earnings by charging higher per-page rates. But how do you get certified if the state doesn’t require it? The NCRA has been administering a certification program for court reporters since 1937 and those who pass the exam earn a Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) designation. The growth in demand for RealTime reporting has also led to the creation of a Certified RealTime Reporter (CCR) designation, bringing with it the possibility for even further career potential.

Hopefully now you’ve got the information needed to get you started on an exciting career as a court reporter. In the future, should you be seeking employment in the Washington DC area (or nationally) please consider Capital Reporting Company. We’re always looking for new great additions to our team!

Court Reporting Agency in Washington DC: What Makes One Successful?

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A Successful Court Reporting Company Is Only As Good As Its Reporters

What makes a court reporting agency successful in Washington DC? Like any good business, a court reporting agency is only as good as its reporters. Quality court reporters are the guardians of the record, and they play a crucial role in the legal system. The integrity and the value of legal proceedings depend on accurate records and the reporters who make them.

A court reporter transcribes speech to produce transcripts of court hearings, depositions and other official proceedings. Court reporters are essential, and their ability to be fast and accurate is crucial. Making sure that an appeal is viable always depends on the court reporter’s transcript. Mistakes in a transcript can be disastrous for the litigators involved. In Washington DC there is certainly no shortage of court reporting agencies; there will always be a demand for an accurate and timely record of legal proceedings. How does one stand out from the crowd?

A Variety Of Court Reporting Services Is The Key To Success

In addition to supplying good court reporters, a modern & successful court reporting agency should provide certain services to be competitive. In the age of information, trends and services change rapidly and a court reporting agency must be able to adapt. A successful agency will offer a wide array of services, utilizing modern technologies to stay competitive and to save the client time and money.

One example is deposition videography. Many lawyers will want a high quality video of their deposition. It is important to provide videography services including lighting and sound equipment. The ability to shoot in a digital format is also beneficial. A polished video should be provided and can be synchronized with the reporter’s transcript.

Another example is live streaming of video, audio and real-time transcripts. This allows an agency team to work remotely while providing an invaluable service. A clean and professional user-friendly website should allow clients to manage all of the aforementioned services online. A successful agency would provide transcripts in a digital form and help clients with uploading. The easier and more streamlined the service operates, the more likely for clients to return and to spread positive reviews about the agency.

A successful court reporter agency in Washington DC will offer a wide variety of services as well as stay current with regards to the newest technologies. However, the success or failure of any agency ultimately rests on the court reporters and the services that they provide.

Capital Reporting Company is excited to now offer LiveDeposition

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Jill Cohen
Capital Reporting Company is excited to now offer LiveDeposition, the most cutting-edge Realtime streaming solution available!  LiveDeposition is a web-based video and text streaming tool that allows you to stream depositions remotely to and from any location with a high-speed internet connection.  LiveDeposition is compatible with multiple operating systems and browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari.  This means your paralegals or experts can review the deposition testimony in real-time without traveling to the deposition site, thereby saving your client expensive travel fees.  And, with the audio and video broadcasting feature, remote attendees can listen to and see what a deponent is staying instantly – all while staying connected via private group instant messaging as the deposition proceeds.

Other interactive features include keyword search, the ability to pause streaming text, a searchable indexed list of words, the capability to jump to a specific page/line, and manual scrolling through the transcript.  Because the service is web-based, no software downloads are required for any of these features, which eliminates the need for time consuming set-up prior to the deposition.  Give Capital Reporting Company a call to learn more about scheduling LiveDeposition for your next job today!

How To Choose A Washington DC Court Reporter

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Court Reporter DC | How to Choose One in Our Nation’s Capital

Experienced court reporters in Washington, DC are hard to come by. Qualified national court reporting agencies will maintain a strong core of reporters and are certainly worth investing in. If you have the opportunity to select a service based on the qualifications of its court reporters, you’ll want to make the most informed decision possible with your court case on the line. When making a final hiring decision, make sure the company you select has DC court reporters that offer the following services.

Court Reporter DC | Your Agency Should Offer…

1. DC Court Reporters Who Travel

Select an agency whose court reporters are able to travel easily. Court reporters have a variety of responsibilities, and making sure they can perform them while mobile is very important. They must be able to make it from a government building to a court house quickly while still focusing on your case. Additionally, if your case requires depositions in remote areas, make sure that your court reporter can staff the job.

2. Court Reporters With A Range of Experience

A court reporting company in DC must have court reporters who have had experiences with a plethora of litigation situations. This means your hire will be able to adapt to your specific court case, and give him or her a much higher chance of providing excellent service. Whether it is a medical malpractice case, or an intellectual property matter, the court reporting agency you hire should be able to cover the job.

3. DC Court Reporters Who Provide Accelerated Delivery

When it comes to providing transcripts and videography services, you want a DC court reporter who is extremely timely. Whether you have an upcoming motions deadline, or are preparing for a trial, make sure your reporter can get you an expedited transcript.

If you select a court reporting company based on these three characteristics of their court reporters, you should be in good shape. When it comes to legal assistance, you always get what you pay for; investing in an agency that provides you excellent service should be your utmost priority.

Court Reporters in Washington DC – A Demanding Profession

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Shari Broussard

How To Become A Court Reporter in Washington, DC

Washington, DC has some of the best court reporting agencies in the world. However, court reporters in Washington DC have an extremely challenging and time-consuming job. Their job is to document the record for those who require legal services, and with so many people in need, there are no breaks.

Washington DC court reporters must gain a strong education and a wide range of experience before they become an effective reporter. In order to become a certified court reporter, the individual must be able to achieve a typing speed of 225 words per minute by the end of training to even qualify for a position as a court reporter in San Francisco or DC.

In addition to all the in-courtroom services they’re responsible for, court reporters in Washington, DC must travel to and from law firms, government buildings, court houses, and even corporations. They are constantly on the move, providing essential services to individuals involved in the legal and litigation process. A high quality court reporting agency will have the ability provide these services remotely through a reliable in-person court reporter.

Washington, DC’s court reporters are highly regarded because they wear so many hats in the courtroom. Once they become certified, court reporters in Washington, DC must experience all different types of litigation and provide real-time service if they are to be a paragon of expert court reporting. From using the latest technology to provide HD video of a deposition to providing secure and accurate legal records, court reporters in Washington, DC must always be able to handle many different types of cases.

Thinking about becoming a court reporter in Washington, DC? Before you make a decision, think hard and consider if you’re willing to make the commitment. If you are, it’s a uniquely satisfying position and you’ll make a huge difference in the lives of many people. Additionally, court reporter employment is expected to grow in the next decade due to the constant demand for precise transcription of legal events.

Capital Reporting Company | National Court Reporting Company on Storage Wars

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Shari Broussard
Capital Reporting Company was featured on A & E’s Storage Wars: New York.  The following clip portrays court reporters from Capital Reporting Company, a national court reporting company!

Court Reporters in Washington DC – First Steps in Hiring

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Jill Cohen
If you’re in search of a good Washington DC court reporter, your first steps in hiring could make or break your court case. Here are five essential firm traits to look for before you retain a court reporter in Washington DC

1. Full Array of Services

Selecting certain services from multiple court reporters in Washington DC will turn into a headache fast. Instead, choose a single court reporting agency that will provide everything you’ll need at a moment’s notice. Keep your eyes peeled for the following services all offered by a single experienced court reporting agency:

§ Court reporting

§ Videography

§ Live Streaming

§ Case management

§ Transcription

Why not have access to all of these crucial services through one experienced court reporting agency? Doing so will make life much easier for you and your staff.

2. Online Access

A good Washington DC court reporting company will have the ability for you to manage all of your services online. For example, you should be able to book a deposition and check an invoice simply by logging onto your secure webpage. Additionally, the best court reporters in Washington, D.C. will be able to provide your transcripts in a digital format, and upload them for you.

3. National and International Coverage

Good court reporters in Washington DC will be able to cover your depositions in any state, or in any country. Even though you may originally simply need a court reporter in Washington, D.C., the fact remains that your case may have litigation demands elsewhere. Accordingly, a solid court reporting company can help you anywhere your case takes you.

4. Good Past Performance

When considering different court reporting companies in the District of Columbia, make sure to check on the company’s past performance. Has the court reporting company worked for small firms and large firms? Have they handled this same type of case before? Ask yourself these questions before making your choice. Look for a comprehensive list of other law firms that a court reporting firm has worked with as well as awards from The National Law Journal and The Recorder.

5. Works With Government Clients

Washington DC is the heart of politics and government in the United States. A strong court reporting agency in Washington DC will have government clients, and at least a partial list available online. Being approved to work with agencies like the Department of Homeland Security of the United States Library of Congress suggests a wealth of experience and a firm that has a record of success.

There are many court reporters in Washington DC to choose from. If you can find a firm that fulfills all five of the above traits, you’ll give yourself the greatest chance to win your case and relieve stress while you do it!