Service of Process

Service of process in Taiwan can be effected by registered mail, by an agent (generally a local attorney), or pursuant to a letter rogatory. The attorney or agent can execute an affidavit of service before a consular officer at AIT. However, if enforcement of a judgment is anticipated, Taiwan authorities may not accept service by mail or by agent.

Click here for a list of attorneys in Taiwan

Travel of U.S. Local, State or Federal Government Officials:

Local, state or federal prosecutors or other government officials traveling to Taiwan in connection with a judicial assistance matter should contact AIT before making travel arrangements.

Authentication of AIT Seal:

The AIT seal can be authenticated by the Department of State's Authentication Office. For information visit www.state.gov/m/a/auth/.

Letters Rogatory

Letters rogatory can be used to effect service of process and to compel production of documents or testimony of an unwilling witness in Taiwan. Letters rogatory for use in Taiwan must:

• contain an offer of reciprocal assistance and a statement expressing the willingness of the requesting court to reimburse the Taiwan judicial authorities for costs incurred in executing the letter rogatory
• be in English with certified translations in Mandarin Chinese
• be addressed to the "Appropriate Judicial Authority of Taiwan". (Do not use "Republic of China" in the letter rogatory or in any accompanying documents or translations.)

If the letter rogatory requests the taking of evidence, the Taiwan court will examine the witnesses using written questions. A full transcription of the deposition, in Chinese, will be made available and should be requested in the letter rogatory.

Send the letter rogatory to the Office of American Citizens Services, CA/OCS/ACS/EAP, 2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., 4th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20037. Enclose a certified check for US$735 payable to the American Institute in Taiwan.

Depositions in Taiwan

The procedure for taking a deposition in Taiwan is quite different from the normal process in the United States. In Taiwan, as courts have no stenographer or court reporter, visiting foreign visitors have the option of bringing their own stenographer or recording the deposition via their own audio visual equipment. You must also obtain your own post-hoc Chinese translation if required.

To conduct a deposition of a willing witness in front of a Consular Officer, contact AIT directly to make arrangements. We have a full schedule of service appointments every day and may not be able to schedule a deposition on short notice. Please plan accordingly.

AIT’s American Citizen Service (ACS) office has a small conference room that can accommodate 5-6 people and can be made available for depositions during our office hours 8:30am – 5:00pm. Use of AIT’s ACS conference room must be reserved in advance through the office secretary. Please note that AIT is unable to provide any audio/visual equipment for purposes of recording a deposition. If you will be bringing audio/visual equipment into AIT, you must then coordinate your visit at least two weeks in advance in order to allow our security office to make the necessary arrangements.

If our office space does not meet your needs, you should be prepared to take depositions at an alternate location such as a hotel business conference room, lobby, or private room. AIT can provide a list of attorneys who may also be in a position to make special arrangements for the purposes of the deposition.

Fees for the taking of depositions are set forth in the Federal Register. They include the following:

Non-Refundable Deposition Scheduling Fee (If rescheduled, another $475 fee is collected)	US$475.00
Hourly Rate for the Time During Actual Deposition (If the officer is called back, a second fee will apply)	US$265.00
Affidavit of witness/stenographer/interpreter/videographer (Per affidavit)	US$30.00
Closing Certificate	US$70.00
Return of Transcript and Incidental Expenses	Actual Cost

The fee should be paid in the form of a certified bank check or international money order payable to the American Institute in Taiwan. This deposit is not refundable if the deposition is canceled or rescheduled.

In order to schedule AIT services please contact our office secretary at (02) 2162-2306. AIT will need to know the date and duration required for the deposition.

Click here for more information on judicial assistance in Taiwan.

Click here for a list of translators

Click here for a list of Videographers

Click here for a list of Interpreters

Click here for a list of Stenographers/Court Reporters

Additional Information

Click here for more information about judicial assistance worldwide.

Also, for additional information about judicial assistance worldwide, contact the

East Asia and Pacific Division
American Citizens Services and Crisis Management
U.S. Department of State

2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., 4th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20037

Tel: 202-647-6769; or 202-647-5226;
Fax: 202-647-2835.