From: Rabbi Moshe Sofer
To: Rabbi Nosson Neta Segal Landa
A creditor sought to preserve testimony about an oral deathbed instruction by depositing it with secular authorities as a written record, not for adjudication. The Chasam Sofer confirms that mere record-keeping at secular courts — without any litigation or adjudication — does not violate the Torah prohibition of arkaos and does not constitute forbidden honor to gentile institutions. He endorses Rabbi Lande's ruling permitting this without requiring prior authorization from beis din.
Source: Shu"t Chasam Sofer CM §3