Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) staff or assigned counsel court transcript requester

If you have never ordered a Trial Court transcript paid for by CPCS, or have questions about what to expect, including how long your order may take, we recommend you review this page before submitting your order form.

This page will assist you through the transcript ordering process if you are ordering transcripts in your official capacity as:

• A CPCS staff attorney or
• CPCS assigned counsel

Motion for funds

The initial step in ordering transcripts involves determining whether your transcript order requires a Motion for Funds. It is your obligation to submit transcript orders following various policies and procedures, including the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) Court Cost Vendor Manual (PDF). 

CPCS requires a Motion for the following scenarios: 

• Expedited/rush services: All orders (appeal and non-appeal) default to the standard rate without prior approval. File a Motion for "Rush" or "Expedited" Funds if a rush transcript is needed.
• Non-appeal costs exceeding $1,000: File a Motion for Funds in Excess of $1,000 if projected costs surpass this threshold considering both past and impending orders. OTS notifies you if your order may exceed it. Provide a copy of the Court-approved Motion to OTS. Attach it to our order form or email it to [e-mail]. Consult the CPCS Court Cost Vendor Manual for detailed guidance.

You can attach a copy of the Motion to our Transcript Order Form. 

Order a transcript

Please note: If you're ordering transcripts for an appeal, review the additional instructions in the Appeal transcripts section.

1. Motion for funds:
   • Required: Motion required for any expedited/rush order (appeal/non-appeal)
   • Required: Motion required for non-appeal orders expected to exceed $1,000.
   • Attach allowed Motion signed by a judge to your transcript order form.
2. Gather case information: Accurate case details are crucial for timely processing. To locate audio without them, we may need to search through entire recordings to locate your case, significantly delaying your order. Please ensure you provide:
   • The full case name (ex. Comm. v. John Doe)
   • The complete docket number, including county (ex. 2301CR01234)
   • The judge's name that presided over your case
   • The courtroom number where your case was held
   • The date, start and end times of your proceeding
   • Note: Assigned Counsel must provide a Notice of Assignment of Counsel (NAC) number.
   • Optional: Learn more about the process for ordering audio of Trial Court proceedings
3. Submit transcript order form
   • Submit the Transcript Order Form with as much notice as possible
   • Enter exact case details
   • Indicate any specific deadlines, and we’ll let you know if we can meet them
   • A Court transcript coordinator will confirm receipt of your order via email after reviewing it
   • Optional: Attach your FTR Recording Vault audio order form to submission
4. Wait for completion
   • Turnaround time varies based on factors like audio length and service type (rush or regular)
   • Rush orders are completed faster than regular ones
   • Track or cancel your order by emailing [e-mail]
5. Transcriber delivers transcript
   • The transcriber delivers the completed transcript by email.

Ready to order?

Access the Transcript Order Form here.

Appeal transcripts

This section details the procedures for ordering transcripts in appeal cases, highlighting the differences between Child Welfare proceedings and those related to any other proceeding type.

Ordering the transcript in cases other than Child Welfare proceedings

Appellant responsibilities:

• Order transcripts: Within 14 days of filing notice of appeal, the Appellant generally orders transcripts of relevant proceedings and files a copy of the Transcript Order Form with the Clerk’s Office along with the other parties.
• Payment: The Appellant usually pays the costs of the transcripts ordered for the Court and the parties.

Transcriber duties:

• Simultaneous email delivery: Transcribers send completed transcripts in electronic PDF format to both the Court and parties involved. Generally, it is the Appellant’s obligation to provide names and email address of the Clerk’s Office and the other parties.

Clerk role:

• Assemble the record: The Clerk’s Office assembles the record or collects original transcripts, papers, and exhibits in preparation for your appeal. This process starts once you file your Notice of Appeal and completes after they obtain all necessary documents, typically with transcripts being the final component. The Clerk’s Office sends the record to the Appellate Court only when the Appeals Court specifically requests it.

Ordering the transcript in Child Welfare proceedings

To order the transcript in Child Welfare proceedings for an appeal includes two notable distinctions:

1. Order transcripts: Unlike in typical appeals, where the Appellant is responsible for ordering transcripts, in Child Welfare cases, this duty shifts to the Court. Specifically, the Clerk’s Office is tasked with ordering the necessary transcripts for the appeal. 
2. Serve the Transcript Order Form: Similarly, in Child Welfare cases, the responsibility to serve the transcript order form on all involved parties transitions from the Appellant to the Clerk’s Office. 

All other responsibilities remain unchanged: Apart from these distinctions, the roles and duties of the Appellant, Transcriber, and Clerk’s Office in Child Welfare appeals align with the general appeal process outlined previously. This includes the Appellant's obligation to cover transcript costs, the Transcriber's duty to deliver transcripts simultaneously in electronic PDF format to the Court and all parties, and the Clerk’s role in assembling the record for the appeal.

Transcript order reminders

• Order audio: Consider ordering audio of your Court event at FTR Recording Vault to help us process your order quickly!
• Motion: Orders proceed at standard or regular rate by default. For expedited or rush rate, you must explicitly request, and a Court must approve, expedited transcripts. Motion needed for non-appeal transcripts where total cost of prior and current orders exceed $1,000.
• Avoid delays: Submit your Transcript Order Form with precise case details, including start and end times, date, courtroom number, etc. Incomplete information may require us to listen through entire recordings to find your case, causing significant delays.
• Cost of order: Estimate the cost of a transcript.
• Time to complete order: Turnaround time varies based on factors like audio length, requested rate (rush or regular), and potential delays in locating audio.
• Review Vbill: The transcriber will invoice CPCS after they deliver the transcript you ordered. Please review their invoice by accessing CPCS’ on-line billing system, Vbill. 

Ready to order?

Order an official Trial Court transcript 

Additional resources for ordering transcripts

• View frequently asked questions about court transcripts
• Find instructions for ordering audio and submit your order for court audio on FTR Recording Vault
• See a list of Court orders, rules, and laws about transcripts and disclaimers
• Read our website disclosure