Trial Court staff court transcript requester

If you have never ordered a Trial Court transcript, 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 Clerk
  • A Judge
  • Other Trial Court staff

Table of Contents

Order a transcript

Please note: If you're ordering appeal transcripts for a child welfare case, review the additional instructions in the Ordering a transcript in child welfare proceedings 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. 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 ots@jud.state.ma.us
  4. Transcriber delivery and payment
    • OTS processes, receives, and pays for the Transcript Order Forms submitted by the Court for Court operations

Ready to order?

Access the Transcript Order Form here.

Ordering a transcript in child welfare proceedings

Trial Court Administrative Order 19-1 and Rules of Appellate Procedure Rule 8 require the Court to order transcripts for Child Welfare proceedings on appeal. Some information concerning those duties is provided below.

  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. Follow Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) rules:
    • CPCS orders default to standard or regular rate
    • Notice of Assignment of Number (NAC) required if Assigned Counsel appointed as Appellate Counsel
    • Note: CPCS does not require a Motion for an appeal ordered at the standard or regular rate. A Motion is required for rush or expedited transcription. 
  3. 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. 

Transcript order reminders

  • 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?

Additional resources for ordering transcripts

Contact   for Trial Court staff court transcript requester

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