If you’re involved in a legal proceeding, chances are you’ll need to get your hands on reliable court transcripts. But how much do court transcripts cost? And is it possible to obtain transcripts without paying expensive fees? (Hint, hint—the answer is yes).
You may have heard court transcripts are expensive, but the truth is getting a transcript doesn’t have to break the bank. In this blog post, we’ll explore all your options for obtaining a transcript so you can make an informed decision.
Court transcription is an official written record of every word spoken in a courtroom, from the judge to the witnesses to the attorneys. It’s a verbatim account of the events that can be used for reference and evidence in future legal proceedings.
Court transcripts cover important legal events like:
Court transcripts serve an important purpose, as they are often used as accurate, reliable reference documents for subsequent court proceedings. But there’s just one problem—getting your hands on a copy of these finished transcriptions can be costly if you go the traditional route.
Official court transcripts are often created by a professional court reporter or stenographer, who may use a stenograph machine and/or an audio-visual recording of the proceedings to create the transcript. These professionals are handy but charge surprisingly large fees for their court reporting services. For that reason, many people turn to legal transcription companies outside of the courtroom.
Generally speaking, an accurate court transcript can cost anywhere from $1.00 to $7.00 per page, plus an additional fee for delivery time and method. The cost of court transcripts varies depending on the length and complexity of the transcript, how quickly you need it, how much editing is required, and if you’re working with a professional court reporter or transcriber. Court reporters can even charge extra if you’re the first one to order the transcript after its creation.
When you’re trying to determine how much a court transcript will cost, several factors can affect the bottom line. These include:
Court reporters charge fees for their services because of the amount of time, effort, and expertise required to produce a reliable transcript. As such, their fees help ensure they’re adequately compensated for their time and expertise.
The process includes taking precise notes on every word spoken during court proceedings, which requires an extensive knowledge of legal terminology as well as how to correctly use stenography machines or audio-visual recording equipment.
In addition, court reporters must spend time formatting their shorthand notes into a readable transcript, which can be very time-consuming. This is why many people turn to transcription services for their court transcripts, as they provide accurate and speedy results at a fraction of the cost.
In most states, you don’t have to use the contracted court reporter to obtain high-quality transcripts of legal proceedings. Saving money on court transcripts is easy when you use an online service or convenient app like SpeakWrite (check out this nifty savings calculator and see for yourself!)
These services are usually faster and more economical than working with a professional court reporter or transcriber. Be sure to select a service that uses 100% human transcription rather than A.I. transcription or voice-to-text software, especially if you’re relying on the transcripts to be accurate.
Here’s how to get your hands on a court transcript without paying huge court fees:
The length of time it takes to get a court transcript depends on how much audio or video needs to be transcribed and how quickly you need the results. Professional court reporters can typically provide transcripts within two weeks, although online transcription services like SpeakWrite can deliver them in as little as three hours.
The total cost of a court transcript depends on how long the audio or video recording is and how quickly you need it transcribed. Professional court reporters typically charge by the page, but online transcription services like SpeakWrite can provide transcripts for as low as 1.5 cents per word without any contracts or minimums.
Generally speaking, you should contact the court clerk for local court, district court, circuit court, and state courts. However, if the case is in federal court, you can use this federal court downloadable form for your transcript request. Depending on the court’s rules and regulations, there may be large, small, or no fees associated with obtaining a court transcript or copy of the audio-visual recording of the court proceedings.
You can obtain court transcripts in several ways. For example, you can hire a professional court reporter or transcriber, work with an online transcription service, or even use a software program to create your own transcript.
Yes, court transcripts are generally public record. In most states, you can submit a public records request to obtain a copy. However, they may be sealed or redacted in some instances according to the court’s rules and regulations.
The accuracy of a court transcript depends on the skills and experience of the official court reporter or transcriber, but they’re generally very reliable. Reputable online transcription services like SpeakWrite guarantee 99% accuracy in their transcripts, so if you need reliable results, it’s best to go with an established service provider.
No, you don’t have to order your transcript from an official court reporter. Instead, you can use an online transcription service like SpeakWrite to get the same results at a lower cost and with faster turnaround times.
If you’re looking for affordable court transcripts, SpeakWrite has you covered. With our easy-to-use app, you can get reliable human-created transcripts quickly and affordably—without sacrificing quality. Ordering transcripts from court reporters are expensive and costs 40-60% more than using SpeakWrite’s easy app. Plus, we’re so confident you’ll love SpeakWrite that we’re giving away a free trial for new customers. Get started with your free trial now.
