Fed. R. Civ. P. 30 — Depositions by Oral Examination
Last verified: May 19, 2026 · U.S. Courts — FRCP.
Rule Text — Key Provisions
(a) When a deposition may be taken; party limits. A party may, by oral questions, depose any person without leave of court except in specific situations (e.g., over 10 depositions per side, deponent already deposed, before Rule 26(f) conference).
(b)(6) Notice or subpoena directed to an organization. A party may name as deponent a public or private corporation, partnership, association, or governmental agency, and must describe with reasonable particularity the matters for examination. The organization must designate one or more officers/agents to testify on its behalf. This is the federal “Rule 30(b)(6)” deposition.
(d)(1) Duration. A deposition is limited to one day of 7 hours, absent court order.
(c)(2) Objections. Objections during the deposition must be stated concisely, in a non-argumentative and non-suggestive manner. A person may instruct a deponent not to answer only to preserve a privilege, to enforce a court limitation, or to present a motion under Rule 30(d)(3).
Full text: law.cornell.edu/rules/frcp/rule_30.
Plain English
Rule 30 is the federal deposition rule. Two big things every litigator must know: the 7-hour rule and Rule 30(b)(6). Rule 30(b)(6) lets you depose a company, agency, or other organization — the organization must produce someone prepared to answer on its behalf, and that person’s answers bind the entity.
2020 amendments to 30(b)(6) added a meet-and-confer requirement before serving the notice, requiring parties to discuss the matters for examination in good faith.
Key Cases & Authority
- Hickman v. Taylor, 329 U.S. 495 (1947) — Foundation of work-product doctrine; informs scope of deposition questioning.
- United States v. Taylor, 166 F.R.D. 356 (M.D.N.C. 1996) — Leading framework for 30(b)(6) preparation duty: corporate designee must be educated about all responsive information “reasonably available” to the organization.
- QBE Ins. Corp. v. Jorda Enterprises, Inc., 277 F.R.D. 676 (S.D. Fla. 2012) — Eleventh Circuit-area decision on 30(b)(6) preparation and binding effect of designee’s testimony.
- Sanofi-Aventis v. Sandoz, Inc., 272 F.R.D. 391 (D.N.J. 2011) — Influential decision on the seven-hour rule and what counts toward it.
Florida Parallel
Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.310 — Florida deposition practice is similar but with a 1.310(b)(6) organizational-deposition rule analogous to federal 30(b)(6). Florida also has a per-side limit of 10 depositions only by court order, and Florida has not adopted a 7-hour rule.
About this rule walkthrough
Part of The Federal Rule Book, hosted by John M. Phillips — Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, Court TV analyst, admitted in 8 states + 9 federal districts + SCOTUS.
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Educational only — not legal advice.
Rule Text (verbatim from the Florida Supreme Court)
(a) A party may depose any person without leave of court except in specific situations (over 10 depositions per side, deponent already deposed, before Rule 26(f) conference).
(b)(6) A party may name as deponent a public or private corporation, partnership, association, or governmental agency, and must describe with reasonable particularity the matters for examination. The named organization must designate one or more officers, directors, managing agents, or other persons who consent to testify on its behalf. (2020 amendment added meet-and-confer requirement.)
(d)(1) A deposition is limited to one day of 7 hours, absent court order. (c)(2) Objections must be stated concisely in a non-argumentative and non-suggestive manner.
Educational reference. This page summarizes a Federal Rule of Civil Procedure for educational purposes. It is not legal advice. Federal procedural rules can change — always verify the current text at uscourts.gov before relying on this summary in any case.
What this rule means in plain English
Rule 30 governs federal depositions. Two critical pieces: the 7-hour rule per deponent absent court order, and Rule 30(b)(6) organizational depositions where the designee’s answers bind the entity. The 2020 amendment added a meet-and-confer requirement before serving a 30(b)(6) notice.