Massachusetts requires that official stenographic deposition transcripts intended for use in Massachusetts courts be prepared and certified by a qualified Certified Court Reporter (CCR) operating in compliance with the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure and applicable court reporting standards recognized by the Massachusetts Court System. A transcript relied upon for dispositive motion practice, evidentiary hearings, or trial proceedings must reflect proper certification and adherence to governing procedural rules.
Under Massachusetts Rule of Civil Procedure 30, depositions must be taken before an officer authorized to administer oaths, and the transcript must be properly certified by the officer before whom the deposition was taken. The certification must affirm that the testimony was accurately reported and transcribed and that the reporter was authorized to act in that capacity at the time of the proceeding. Massachusetts courts rely on the certified stenographic transcript as the controlling evidentiary record.
Remote depositions are permitted when conducted pursuant to procedural safeguards, stipulation of the parties, or court order. The use of remote technology does not eliminate the requirement that the transcript be prepared and certified by a qualified CCR when intended to function as the official record. Audio or video recordings may supplement testimony but do not replace a properly certified stenographic transcript unless expressly authorized.
For deposition transcripts intended for filing or evidentiary reliance in Massachusetts courts, counsel should confirm CCR qualification and strict compliance with civil procedure rules to preserve admissibility and procedural defensibility.
Under Massachusetts Rule of Civil Procedure 30, depositions must be taken before an officer authorized to administer oaths, and the transcript must be properly certified by the officer before whom the deposition was taken. The certification must affirm that the testimony was accurately reported and transcribed and that the reporter was authorized to act in that capacity at the time of the proceeding. Massachusetts courts rely on the certified stenographic transcript as the controlling evidentiary record.
Remote depositions are permitted when conducted pursuant to procedural safeguards, stipulation of the parties, or court order. The use of remote technology does not eliminate the requirement that the transcript be prepared and certified by a qualified CCR when intended to function as the official record. Audio or video recordings may supplement testimony but do not replace a properly certified stenographic transcript unless expressly authorized.
For deposition transcripts intended for filing or evidentiary reliance in Massachusetts courts, counsel should confirm CCR qualification and strict compliance with civil procedure rules to preserve admissibility and procedural defensibility.
Last reviewed for accuracy: April 2026
