To get a transcript of a court hearing, you order it from a certified transcriber (in many federal courts, from the court's approved transcriber list). You provide the case number, court, and hearing date; the transcriber obtains the official audio, and you receive a certified transcript, typically as a searchable PDF. Deposits are paid up front and turnaround runs from same day to 30 days.
Step 1: Identify exactly what you need
Find your case number and the date of the hearing you want transcribed. Both are on your court paperwork or the docket. If multiple hearings happened, decide whether you need all of them or only certain dates; transcripts are priced by the page, so ordering precisely saves money.
Step 2: Order from a certified transcriber
Most modern courtrooms record proceedings digitally instead of using a live stenographer. The court itself does not usually produce transcripts; certified transcribers do. In federal bankruptcy and district courts, the clerk maintains a list of approved transcribers, and you order directly from one of them. In many state courts, you may order from a transcription company like ours or through the court reporter who covered the hearing.
When you order from Access Transcripts, we request the audio and paperwork directly from the court in most cases, so you do not have to navigate the clerk's office yourself.
Step 3: Pay the deposit and receive your transcript
Transcribers estimate the cost from the audio length (one hour of audio is roughly 45 pages) and collect a deposit before starting. Turnaround time is counted from the deposit, not the initial request. When the work is done you receive a certified, searchable PDF, with printed copies available if you want them.