Pro se or self-represented indigent court transcript requester

If you have never ordered a Trial Court transcript as an indigent court user, 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:

• Pro se or self-represented and
• Unable to afford transcripts

How to request the state to cover your transcript expenses

• Provide personal and case information: Include your full name, address, and information about your case.

• Confirm your indigency status: Select your financial status by choosing options A, B, or C on the Affidavit of Indigency (PDF). If you choose option C, you must also submit a Supplement to the Affidavit (PDF) with additional financial details. This information can be entered in Section I of your Affidavit; application instructions are available on the Apply for indigency webpage.
• Clearly state your transcription needs: Clearly explain your request for the state to cover costs for transcription. If you require a "rush" transcript, specify this need, noting that approval for "rush" or "expedited" services depends on the Court's discretion. Include either an estimated cost of your transcript order or a detailed description of what you need. This information can be entered in Section III of your Affidavit.
• Submit your affidavit: You must submit your Affidavit of Indigency directly to the Clerk’s Office where your case was held. Only a Judge or Clerk at the Court has the authority to approve your affidavit.
• Await Court's Determination: If the Court approves your affidavit, you will receive a Determination Regarding Fees and Costs. This document verifies your indigency status and specifies the fees and expenses the Court allows us to waive for your transcript order.
• Ready to order transcripts: The final step is to submit a Transcript Order Form and provide us with a copy of both your submitted Affidavit of Indigency and the Court's Determination to waive your fee.

Order a transcript

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

1. Court-approved Affidavit of Indigency:
   • If you can't afford transcripts and need fees waived, submit an Affidavit of Indigency to the Court.
   • All orders default to the standard rate without prior approval for “rush” or “expedited” funds
   • Attach the approved affidavit signed by a Clerk or Judge to your transcript order form.
2. Gather case information: Accurate case details are crucial for us to process your transcript order efficiently. This information helps us precisely locate the audio your case proceeding. Without accurate details, 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
   • 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.

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!
• Affidavit of Indigency: Your order requires an Affidavit of Indigency approved by the Court. Attach the Court-approved affidavit, signed by a Clerk or Judge, to your order form. Orders proceed at standard or regular rate by default. For expedited or rush rate, explicit approval for rush or expedited rate from the Court is required.
• 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.
• Time to complete order: Turnaround time varies based on factors like audio length, requested rate (rush or regular), and potential delays in locating audio.

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
• Learn more about Private Pay court transcript requesters
• 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