Private pay court transcript requester

If you have never ordered a private pay Trial Court transcript, or have questions about what to expect, including how long your order may take, or how much it may cost, we recommend you review this section before submitting your order form.

Follow these instructions if you:

• Need transcripts as a self-represented litigant and will pay for them, or
• Need transcripts as a private attorney or business and your business will pay for them

Order a transcript

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

1. 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
2. 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
3. Arrange deposit payment
   • A 50% deposit payment is typically required
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. Payment and delivery
   • Pay any outstanding balance to the transcriber
   • Completed transcripts are generally not delivered until the balance is paid

Ready to order?

Access the Transcript Order Form here.

Appeal transcripts

This section details the additional procedures for ordering transcripts in appeal cases.

Appellant responsibilities:

• Identification: An Appellant is the person asking a Judge from a higher Court to reconsider a Trial Court judge’s final decision of a case, and the Appellee is against the reconsideration.
• 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.

Transcript order reminders

• Order audio: Consider ordering audio of your Court event at FTR Recording Vault to help us process your order quickly!
• 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.
• Deposit: A 50% deposit payment is generally required.
• 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.
• Final payment: Completed transcripts are generally not delivered until the balance is paid.
• Delivery: The transcriber delivers the completed transcript by email.

Ready to order?

Order an official Trial Court transcript 

Additional resources for ordering transcripts

• Find case information on the MassCourts website
• Find out which courts serve your city or town with the Courthouse Locator tool
• View frequently asked questions about court transcripts
• Order transcripts as a Pro se or self-represented indigent transcript requester
• Find instructions for ordering audio and submit your order for court audio on FTR Recording Vault
• Read our website disclosure