Unless the court orders otherwise, the parties may stipulate that:
Rule 29.Stipulations about discovery procedure
Group V: Depositions and Discovery · Last amended March 1, 2017 · Last verified July 14, 2026
In one sentenceRule 29 lets parties agree by stipulation to change how, when, and before whom depositions and other discovery are conducted, subject to court approval when a stipulation would interfere with existing deadlines.
Full Text of Rule 29
(a) a deposition may be taken before any person, at any time or place, on any notice, and in the manner specified — in which event it may be used in the same way as any other deposition; and
(b) other procedures governing or limiting discovery be modified — but a stipulation extending the time for any form of discovery must have court approval if it would interfere with the time set for completing discovery, for hearing a motion, or for trial.
Amendment History
Added February 2, 2017, effective March 1, 2017. Law reviews. — See article, “The 1994 Procedure,” XXX Land & Water L. Rev. 151 Amendments to the Wyoming Rules of Civil (1995).
Plain-English Summary
Discovery does not always have to follow the rulebook to the letter. Rule 29 lets the parties agree among themselves to take a deposition before a different person, at a different time or place, on different notice, or recorded in a different manner than the rules would otherwise require — and once taken that way, the deposition can be used just like any other. That flexibility saves everyone the trouble of asking the court’s permission for routine scheduling accommodations, like working around a witness’s travel or a lawyer’s conflicting hearing.
Parties can also agree to modify other discovery procedures more generally, not just depositions. The one guardrail is timing: if a stipulation would push back a deadline for finishing discovery, hearing a motion, or starting trial, the parties cannot make that change on their own — they need the court’s approval first. That limit keeps private agreements from quietly undermining the court’s own case management schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can parties agree to change about a deposition under this rule?
They can stipulate to take it before any person, at any time or place, on any notice, and in any manner they specify, and it can still be used the same way as a deposition taken under the standard procedures.
Do the parties need the court's permission to make these agreements?
Generally no, unless the court has ordered otherwise. The exception is a stipulation that would push back a deadline for completing discovery, hearing a motion, or holding trial — that kind of timing change needs court approval.
Why would parties want to stipulate around the normal deposition rules?
It often saves time and expense, letting them work around a witness's schedule, agree on a convenient location, or use a recording method that suits everyone without filing a motion asking the court to authorize it.
Can parties modify discovery procedures beyond depositions?
Yes. The rule allows stipulations that modify other procedures governing or limiting discovery generally, not only those specific to oral depositions.
What happens if a stipulation conflicts with the court's case schedule?
If the agreement would interfere with the time set for completing discovery, for a motion hearing, or for trial, it does not take effect on its own — the parties must obtain the court's approval first.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Wyoming. Last verified July 14, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: stipulation to modify discoveryagreeing to change deposition rulesdiscovery stipulation ruleconsent to alter deposition procedurerule 29 stipulation