Section 60-228 – Persons before whom depositions may be taken

May 13, 2021 | Civil Procedure, Kansas

(a)Within the United States.

(1)Inside this state. Depositions in this state must be taken before:

(A) An officer or person authorized to administer oaths by the laws of this state; and
(B) a person who is certified as a certified court reporter by the Kansas supreme court.
(2)Outside this state. Outside this state, but within the United States or a territory or insular possession subject to United States jurisdiction, a deposition must be taken before:

(A) An officer authorized to administer oaths by the law in the place of examination; or
(B) a person appointed by the court where the action is pending to administer oaths and take testimony.
(3)Granting of commission. A court of this state in which an action is pending may grant a commission to one or more persons to take depositions inside or outside this state. The clerk may issue the commission under the seal of the court.
(b)In a foreign country.

(1)In general. A deposition may be taken in a foreign country:

(A) Under an applicable treaty or convention;
(B) under a letter of request, whether or not captioned a “letter rogatory”;
(C) on notice, before a person authorized to administer oaths either by federal law or by the law in the place of examination; or
(D) before a person commissioned by the court to administer any necessary oath and take testimony.
(2)Issuing a letter of request or a commission. A letter of request, a commission, or both may be issued:

(A) On appropriate terms after an application and notice of it; and
(B) without a showing that taking the deposition in another manner is impracticable or inconvenient.
(3)Form of a request, notice or commission. When a letter of request or any other device is used according to a treaty or convention, it must be captioned in the form prescribed by that treaty or convention. A letter of request may be addressed “To the Appropriate Authority in (name of country).” A deposition notice or a commission must designate by name or descriptive title the person before whom the deposition is to be taken.
(4)Letter of request; admitting evidence. Evidence obtained in response to a letter of request need not be excluded merely because it is not a verbatim transcript, because the testimony was not taken under oath or because of any similar departure from the requirements for depositions taken within this state.
(c)Disqualification. A deposition must not be taken before a person who is any party’s relative, employee or attorney, who is related to or employed by any party’s attorney or who is financially interested in the action.

K.S.A. 60-228

Amended by L. 2012, ch. 13,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2012.
Amended by L. 2010, ch. 135,§ 97, eff. 7/1/2010.
L. 1963, ch. 303, 60-228; L. 1997, ch. 173, § 12; L. 2000, ch. 175, § 2; July 1.