A notary public is a person appointed by a state government, whose primary role is to serve the public as an impartial witness when important documents are signed.   Notaries help deter fraud and verify the authenticity of important documents.  The notary also makes sure that the signers are entering into agreements knowingly and willingly. When you see a notary’s seal on a document, it means a notary public verified that the transaction is authentic and properly executed.

But when do you need a notary?   Any time you have a document that could potentially need to be upheld in court, it is a good idea to have it notarized.  Some of the most common documents that should be notarized are the following:

Sworn Statement

Quitclaim Deed

Application for Duplicate or Paperless Title

Power of Attorney

Bill of Sale

Rental/Lease Agreements

Parental Consent for Travel

Medical release forms

Wills/Trusts

Advanced directives

Executorships

Custody and guardianship agreements

Articles of incorporation

Vendor contracts

Commercial leases

Employment contracts

Loan agreements

These are just a few of the documents a notary can sign.  If you need a document witnessed by a notary, make sure to bring a valid form of photo ID (driver’s license, State issued ID, Passport, etc.) and the unsigned documents.  In most cases, the notary will need to witness your signature.  Unsure whether you need a notary?  Call or email our office.

The post What is a Notary and When Do I Need One? appeared first on Select Court Reporters.

How to Choose a Neutral Meeting Venue

So how do you choose a neutral meeting venue that is perfect for your case discussion or
other types of litigation? Think about these questions when selecting the venue for your
upcoming meeting:

● Is the venue big enough to fit all your participants?
● Is there a provision of food at the venue?
● Does the venue fully support your technological requirements?
● Is the location of the venue conveniently accessible?
● Is there a provision for logistics storage?
● Will your meeting materials be prepared beforehand or at the location?
The following details are just a few of the benefits of selecting a neutral meeting space
for a case discussion or other types of litigation.

● Minimal Accommodation Distractions
Hosting a meeting comes with a variety of tasks such as preparing a room and
putting together snacks and drinks. You will have fewer of these responsibilities
when you meet somewhere else, enabling you to put more attention towards the
litigation itself.

● Fewer Interruptions

The breaks that you have during a case discussion should allow you to clear your
head and take a few minutes to regroup. If you’re meeting at your home, there is
a greater likelihood of having family members trying to talk to you during these
breaks about topics that may have nothing to do with the litigation at hand. While
it is possible to get interrupted at any location, there will be fewer interruptions
from staff when you’re away from the office.

● No Expectation to Provide Copy Services

Many people agree to host a meeting without realizing that it will mean providing
copy services to the attending counsel. This may not seem like a big deal, but
secretaries and assistants have better things to do with their time. Having the
meeting in a neutral location minimizes these expectations.

● Ease of Commuting

The meeting venue, when conveniently located for your participants and within a
fair distance helps avoid excessive travel and saves the attendance from the
undue pains of commuting.

● Good Customer Service

It helps to make sure that the venue is responsive to your needs before the event.
Having sufficient support staffs on location when the event is taking place will
ensure that you and your attendees’ demands will be responded in a timely
manner.

The post Professional Meeting Venues Add Value to Case Discussion appeared first on Select Court Reporters.

With today’s advanced technology, many attorneys and legal establishments are choosing to eliminate the human factor and record the majority of their cases and hearings digitally. This option is cheaper in terms of man-hours but can be incredibly costly when it comes to accuracy. Even court reporters are beginning to use digital recordings. In most cases, though, they use the digital advantage as a backup.

Digital Recordings

Digital recordings provide an accurate account of everything that has been said during the course of an interview, interrogation, or testimony. Video recordings can capture facial expressions, gestures, and other visual elements that a voice recorder does not.
When digital recordings are used, the equipment must be properly maintained so that it continues to function properly at all times. It’s also important that the equipment is monitored throughout its operation to make sure that there are no glitches or malfunctions that could cost you valuable information.

The Advantage of Having a Court Reporter

There are advantages to having an actual court reporter on hand to transcribe a hearing or other legal meetings. Using a court reporter not only ensures accuracy throughout meetings or interviews, it also allows for mistakes or malfunctions in equipment to be corrected as they happen. No information will be lost and there will be no fear of lapses in recording time.

Another benefit of having a court reporter do the transcribing is the fact that everything will be captured. The spoken word, inflection or tone, and any visual cues will be recorded as they occur and placed in the notes creating an accurate and complete record of the session.

Digital Recordings vs. Court Reporting

While digital recordings are a good choice in certain situations, having an actual person on hand can mean the difference between an accurate transcription and a complete transcription.

Digital recording is an excellent option if there is no way for a court reporter to be present. When a court reporter is available, however, employing the human factor may make all the difference between an accurate recording and one that is not only accurate but complete and concise as well.
In reality, blending the two concepts will provide the best of both worlds.

The post Digital Recordings vs Court Reporting appeared first on Select Court Reporters.

Certifications and Memberships

Look for a court reporter who is both certified and a member of professional organizations. This will give you a good indication of their credibility and commitment to providing quality work. As a member of a professional organization, court reporters must adhere to a specific code of conduct.

Availability

It’s essential that the court reporter you choose offers flexible hours and is available when you need him/her. This is especially true if there comes a time when the need arises outside of regular business hours. Having a court reporter who is available whenever they are needed can be extremely beneficial.

Experience Level

Look for a reporter who has experience in both courtroom and deposition settings. This allows you to use the same person for both types of jobs. Ask around to see who other legal professionals use. Most of them will be willing to share the names of the reporters who are hard-working and professional.

Unbiased Approach

In the legal field, it is essential that the court reporter you need is neutral and
impartial. Find one that does not have an affiliation with either party so that
there is no question about the accuracy of the files and credibility of the reporter.

Turnaround Time

Most court documents are time sensitive and have deadlines attached. Choose the reporter who has a reputation for being on time and consistent when turning in their work. Try to search for a company that offers a guaranteed turnaround time that meets your expectations.

Effective Communication

It’s important that the lines of communication are always open. This allows you to get answers to your questions when you need them, not when it’s convenient. Whether it be by email or phone, choose someone who is always responsive to your needs.

The post How Attorney’s Are Choosing A Court Reporter appeared first on Select Court Reporters.

Many people don’t know what a court reporter is and even more so have  never even heard of a court reporter. I would say court reporters have one  of the neatest jobs ever, but I may be a bit bias. Let me tell you some of the  great perks we have and you be the judge.

1. Depending on how hard you work and how often you are trying to grow  yourself as a court reporter, you could be presented some awesome  opportunities. History is made every single day in courtrooms, how  awesome would it be to be part of it.

2. You work on your own time 90% of the time. As an independent  contractor working for a court reporting agency or even your own agency,  your work schedule is on your own time. Of course you’re only paid for jobs  you do so flexibility and availability are the key to success. There are also  plenty of government entities with a set schedule if you’re looking for a  more stable schedule with benefits.

3. Court reporting allows you to have your space and be social. You’ll meet  a ton of people – lawyers, paralegals, witnesses, and judges. You will hear  everyone’s business and learn a lot. While it’s obvious that you must remain  unbiased and more or less seen and not heard during official proceedings,  you still must build and maintain relationships. If your turnaround time is  fast and court has never waited on you, you can guarantee yourself more  jobs to come.

Those are just a few awesome perks of being a court reporter. If you’re  interested in becoming a court reporter, do some research and give it a try.

The post Perks of Being A Court Reporter appeared first on Select Court Reporters.

If you are someone who makes a lot of notes to yourself during the  job, take the time to search your notes and clean up those sections in  advance.

2. Proofread against the audio 

Take the time to proofread the first 10-15 pages against your audio.  Counsel shouldn’t have to pay for your warm-up session, so by taking this  step, the reader can immediately feel confident in the product you’re  selling.

3. Turn off your timestamps

Be sure to turn off timestamps before submitting your rough draft. If  you had a significant drop for any reason, your timestamps on the rough  draft will give you away.

4. Spell Check

Be sure to spell check, you write for a living and nothing looks worse  than misspelled words through a professional type up. You may be  surprised what spell check finds and will save you embarrassment later.

The post 4 Ways To Increase Your Bottom Line appeared first on Select Court Reporters.

How Serious Are You About Data Security?
Your court reporting firm should be able to provide you with peace of mind when it comes to ensuring that your vital information is fully protected. When it comes to procedures and protocols, make sure that everything is in place, and their programs are effective.

Are You Serious About Meeting Your Client’s Needs?
Court reporting firms must be dedicated not only to data security but also to finding solutions that meet each client’s unique needs. Talk to your court reporting firm to determine what they deliver, and ask for a personalized plan to make sure you get everything you need.

How Do You Manage Quality?
It’s essential that your court reporting firm informs you about how they effectively organize and manage every facet, from your billing to your data security. This quality assurance will make sure that all of your confidential information is completely protected.

How Do You Manage Your Confidential Information?
The court reporting firm should follow the highest standards of confidentiality, and should never allow that your confidential information is stored in local work areas. They should use data encryption and store information in certified data-centers to protect it from hacks and breaches.

Is Your Data Security Program Trustworthy?
Make sure that the firm uses secure technology at every possible level. Data encryption protects information and allows it to be stored and distributed safely without fear of it being leaked or corrupted during any of the processes. From deposition to client retrieval, your information should remain safe.

It is vital for the court reporting firms to reassure the clients that their information is a top priority. You should know that the information your court reporting firm provides is secure and fully protected at all times. It’s their responsibility to give you that peace of mind and reassurance.

At Select Court Reporters, we take care of all of these aspects to ensure the highest standards of confidentiality for all our clients. We work hard every day to earn your trust and to make sure that all your confidential information is protected.

The post 5 Questions Your Court Reporting Firm Should Answer appeared first on Select Court Reporters.

The post What Every Court Reporter Wants You To Know appeared first on Select Court Reporters.

The legal industry is no exception to the time = money concept. In fact, it is one of the most time sensitive industries. Court reporters must produce accurate transcripts of depositions and trials in a timely manner. More often than not, they are producing a transcript with a very quick turn around time. Their ability to do this depends on their ability to know who is speaking, read lips of soft spoken talkers, mark key sections of the transcript, highlight code text, and make notes to reference later all while the trial or deposition is happening. Some reporters provide real time, which allows legal parties to have instant access to a live transcript feed as the reporter is writing it. However, this is not 100% cleaned up, and may not include punctuation that the reporter goes in and adds later. Individuals who are not on site utilize real time reporting to stream from their location, which saves them both time and money on traveling.

The misconception that court reporters will soon be replaced stems from the notion that voice-recording technologies would cost less than having to hire a court reporter. However, this is simply not accurate. Law firms would not only have to pay for the software, but they would also have to have it hardwired and purchase storage for large digital files. This could cost anywhere from $40,000 to $50,000. When you utilize voice recording technology, you must also have an IT professional available to resolve any malfunctions that may occur. When you add up all the costs associated with the voice recording system, it is more accurate, affordable, and feasible to simply hire a professional court reporter.

The post Can and Will Technology Replace Court Reporters? appeared first on Select Court Reporters.

Every attorney needs a blog.

We bet you’ve heard this phrase before…

While it may seem like a frivolous addition to a crowded weekly schedule, blogging is an important element for your firm. Blogs allow attorneys to connect with potential clients in important ways.

For example, if you are a construction litigator and you blog about things like latent defects or other construction items that homeowners should keep an eye out for, you not only provide vital information to an unsuspecting public, you also give them something much greater: peace of mind.

This should be a big goal on your list of marketing milestones.

Creating peace of mind for clients is an attorney’s job. They want to know that you are on their side and that you’ll protect them from potential legal fallout. If you can provide this service before a person becomes your client, you get a giant head start on your competitors.  By giving your prospects advice via your firm’s blog, you place yourself in that highly coveted column labeled TRUSTWORTHY.

That is the ultimate point of a blog. It’s not just about networking with clients and colleagues, it’s about building trust.

If you’re feeling lost on how to go about establishing a blog for your firm, check out this great post on building a blog in 2018!

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Select Court Reporters provides exemplary court reporting services to attorneys and law firms throughout Central Florida, including but not limited to Winter Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, Maitland, Orlando, Apopka, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Sanford, Longwood, and Kissimmee. We are currently expanding our client base in Seminole and Orange Counties and would love to connect with you. Contact us today to discuss your needs.
Phone: (407) 977 – 7725
Email: selectcourtreporters@gmail.com
“Select Court Reporters you can count on!”

The post Here’s Why Every Attorney Needs a Blog appeared first on Select Court Reporters.