When American courtrooms convene to hear legal cases, an audio or video recording usually captures the proceedings. Did you know that most U.S. court jurisdictions use legal transcription companies?
Some people mistakenly believe that only court reporters can produce transcriptions of courtroom proceedings. Yes, most court systems have contracts with multiple court reporters, court reporting firms, or legal transcription companies to transcribe their legal proceedings.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find your own company outside of those under contract to transcribe your court hearings if you need to have it done faster or cheaper.
In This Article You’ll Know How:
- You can legally order court audio and choose your own transcription provider, even if the court system works with contracted court reporters.
- To request a court hearing recording from the clerk’s office by following the correct process, with the necessary case details and a clear understanding of local procedures.
- To hire a certified, U.S.-based legal transcription company to create accurate verbatim transcripts for court preparation or legal filing—often faster and more affordable than court reporters.
How to Order a Court Transcript
Regardless of the type of service used, interested parties can usually obtain a DVD audio file and hire a legal transcription company to produce either a verbatim (every sound from every speaker is transcribed) or a cleaned-up verbatim (we take out the ums, ah’s, stutters…) transcript.
Ordering transcripts from court reporters costs 40-60% more than ordering from Ditto Transcripts.
Attorneys regularly work with court reporters. They often order transcripts to review and prepare for their cases. In some cases, you must order a transcript to file certain paperwork for your case.
Step-by-step
If your attorney has already ordered a transcript, you can request a copy. If not, then follow the steps below to order a court transcript on your own.
- Contact the court clerk: Call the Clerk of Court where the case was heard to ask how to obtain a copy of the audio recording. Be prepared with the case number, date, and time of the proceeding, parties involved, and the specific court that handled the case.
- Confirm local procedures and costs: The process and pricing vary by jurisdiction. In most cases, courts charge between $10 and $25 to burn a DVD of a hearing, but rules can differ widely by state, county, or municipality.
- Verify details directly: While some information may be available on the court clerk’s website, the most reliable way to confirm the correct process is to speak directly with a clerk’s office employee.
- Order the court recording: Request the DVD or digital copy for the specific case. Many courts work with third-party vendors to record and store audio or video files. Following the clerk’s instructions exactly is essential.
- Choose a US-based transcription provider: Once you have the recording, work with a US-based legal transcription company that offers verbatim transcripts, which are required for court preparation or future proceedings.
- Submit your transcription request: After confirming you have the correct audio file, place your order. Uploading the file online is the most common and efficient way to request a transcript.
Following the correct steps ensures court recordings are obtained properly and converted into accurate, admissible documentation. Working with trusted legal transcription services helps turn official audio into reliable verbatim transcripts that support effective case preparation and courtroom use.
Understanding Court Transcripts
Local and state court systems are regulated by the individual laws of each state and municipality. Accordingly, federal courts are governed by federal law. Here’s how most court systems are structured.
| Court System Level | Description |
| Local or Municipal Courts (City & County) | Local court systems operate under ordinances and laws set by cities, counties, and parishes. Municipal courts in smaller jurisdictions typically handle minor cases such as traffic violations and other low-level infractions. |
| State Courts | State courts handle a wide range of cases, including civil and criminal matters. County general session judges usually preside over misdemeanors and lower-level felony cases, while more serious offenses are heard by judges elected by the public or appointed by the governor. Cases may move from lower courts to appellate courts and, in some instances, to the state supreme court. |
| Federal Courts | Federal courts handle violations of federal law, beginning at the federal district court level. Similar to state systems, cases can advance to a federal appeals court and potentially the U.S. Supreme Court. The United States Courts website provides official forms and instructions for requesting court transcripts. |
Government transcription services ensure these records are produced accurately and securely, supporting transparency, compliance, and informed decision-making across local, state, and federal courts.
Do I Have to Order My Transcripts from a Court Reporter?
In almost every circumstance, attorneys are involved in a legal matter. Even individual citizens can obtain court audio/video of a particular case.
Do court reporters furnish every court transcript from those audio or video files? No, they do not.
Many times, audio and video recordings are made of court proceedings without a court reporter present. There are too many court hearings and not enough court reporters to attend them all.
On average, court reporters earn about $150 hour. So having them attend every court hearing in the U.S. would be extremely expensive.
Does the Freedom of Information Act Guarantee Access to Transcripts?
The Freedom of Information Act applies only to federal government agencies and does not automatically guarantee access to court transcripts.
Individual states establish their own laws governing the availability of legal audio and video recordings and their corresponding transcripts. In some smaller municipal courts, audio or video files may not be available at all due to limited recording capabilities.
In certain situations, judges may also restrict access to court transcripts if releasing the information could violate personal rights or involve sensitive material. These include protected medical information or details from an ongoing civil or criminal investigation. When access is granted and transcripts are required for legal proceedings, trial transcription services help ensure the resulting records are accurate, complete, and suitable for courtroom use.
A general rule of thumb is that if the court proceeding was open to the public, obtaining an audio file and then ordering a transcript is possible.
Can I Record a Court Proceeding Myself?
Recording audio or video of a legal proceeding yourself is not advisable. Courts often have rules governing the recording of courtroom proceedings. Plus, the laws regarding recording private and public conversations vary from state to state.
If recording is permitted, you must obtain consent from all recorded parties and, most importantly, approval from the judge overseeing the case. When recordings are allowed and later used for legal purposes, verbatim transcription is essential to ensure every spoken word is captured accurately and preserved in a format suitable for review or court preparation.
How Much Do Court Transcripts Cost?
The cost of obtaining a DVD from the court clerk’s office varies by office, usually $10-$25. Once you have possession of the DVD, the legal transcription company can provide an estimate of the final cost.
Everyone wants a great deal. However, be wary of paying legal transcription rates that sound too good to be true.
We advise people to contact a member of the transcription company’s management team to ask specific questions about their request. Also, it’s important to confirm that the transcription company can certify your transcript, meaning they stand behind their work and will even testify if needed.
Many transcription companies charge low prices because they are either unable or unwilling to certify their transcripts. This often occurs when companies use transcriptionists from foreign countries.
Our legal transcription prices range between $1.50 and $5.00 per audio minute. Prices fall into three classifications (A, B, or C) based on the turnaround time, number of speakers, and audio quality.
Most legal transcriptions fall into either B or C because they involve three or more speakers, often using complex legal words and phrases that require legal experience to transcribe correctly.
The most common legal transcription request we receive is for a 6-10 business-day turnaround time, with 4+ speakers and verbatim transcription, at a cost of $2.75 per audio minute.
How Long Will It To Complete Your Court Transcripts?
Standard rates apply to transcripts returned within three to five business days. If you require expedited service, we can complete your transcript within 1 to 2 business days.
Many court reporting firms have standard turnaround times of 30 days, so be aware that they can take much longer than a legal transcription company like Ditto Transcripts.
We highly recommend that you speak personally with company management so that both parties have a clear understanding of the work required and the exact cost of your legal transcript.
Hiring the Right Legal Transcription Service Matters
At Ditto Transcripts, one of our primary specialties is legal transcription. We employ trained, experienced U.S. legal transcriptionists. More importantly, our legal transcriptionists must pass a criminal background check and are verified U.S. residents.
Unfortunately, not all transcription companies can provide certified legal transcription by a U.S.-based, experienced legal transcriptionist.
Why? Because cheap transcription companies use foreign-based contractors who are unable to appear in court to testify to their accuracy, as they do not live or work in the U.S.
Some transcription companies even use multiple foreign transcriptionists to transcribe the same file, leading to errors and inconsistencies in the transcribed text. Other companies attempt to save money by using Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs to transcribe your files, which will create errors that can take you hours to correct.
Ditto Transcripts has a team of U.S.-based transcriptionists specializing in legal matters. We certify and stand behind our legal transcripts. And we guarantee the accuracy of our work and commit to testifying in court if necessary.
When accuracy, accountability, and trust matter most, Ditto Transcripts delivers legal transcription you can rely on. Our commitment to certified, U.S.-based transcriptionists and court-ready accuracy is reflected in the results we provide to our clients. For real-world insight into our reliability and service quality, see our testimonials and see how legal professionals trust Ditto Transcripts for their most critical cases.
Conclusion: How to Order a Quality and Accurate Court Transcript
Confirm that the legal transcription company you retain to transcribe your legal audio and video files offers the following
| What to Confirm | Why It Matters |
| U.S.-based transcriptionists with background checks | Ensures legal eligibility, accountability, and the ability to testify in court if required. |
| Direct access to company management | Allows you to ask specific questions, confirm procedures, and avoid miscommunication before work begins. |
| Accuracy guarantee | Confirms the company stands behind its work and takes responsibility for transcript quality. |
| Certified legal transcripts | Certification is required for many legal proceedings and confirms that the transcript is court-ready. |
| Upfront cost estimate | Provides transparency and prevents unexpected fees before transcription begins. |
Ditto Transcripts is a Denver, Colorado-based FINRA, HIPAA, and CJIS-compliant transcription services company that provides fast, accurate, and affordable transcripts for individuals and companies of all sizes. Call (720) 287-3710 today for a free quote.