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Court Reporters & Transcripts

Court Reporters Transcript Requests

A transcript of court proceedings is a verbatim record of everything said by the judge, attorneys, witnesses and others during a court hearing or trial. If a hearing or trial was reported by a court reporter, that court reporter is responsible for preparing a transcript of the hearing as required by law or upon request. Except for those transcripts prepared for the court for certain criminal matters, all other parties requesting transcripts are required to pay reporters for the preparation of transcripts at the rate prescribed by law.

How can I order a transcript?

Send a written request directly to the Court Reporter:

1. Complete the Transcript Request Form

2. Email form to the Court Reporter (see contact list below)

3. Wait for a response from the Court Reporter regarding next steps

Alternatively, you can verbally submit your request by leaving a voicemail for the Court Reporter stating the following:

1. Case Name and Case Number

2. Hearing Date, Time and Judicial Officer

3. Your contact information including your name, address, email address and daytime telephone number.

All of the information requested on the Transcript Request Form is available in the court file.  You can contact the appropriate Clerk's Office for the information or to review the file.

Please note: Request for transcripts of confidential or juvenile proceedings,  require a signed order of the Court, using Local Form RP-002. 

List of Staff Court Reporters

** Click on the name below to email **

List of Frequently Used Pro Tempore or Former Employee Reporters

** Click on the name below to email **

Once the transcript request is received, the court reporter will contact you directly with a cost and time estimate for the preparation of the transcript.

Please keep in mind that:

  • Court reporters work in court all day; response time may not be immediate
  • You may be required to send in a deposit before a transcript will be produced
  • Time required for delivery of the transcript varies depending on length of the transcript and Reporter workload

Requests to transcribe electronically recorded proceedings

The Court is now electronically recording certain court proceedings. For electronically recorded proceedings, you will see a + sign where you would normally see the initials of a court reporter. Requests to transcribe electronically recorded proceedings must be submitted in writing and may require up to 14 days to process. Requests cannot be submitted over the phone. Requests may be submitted by mail or in person at the Archived Records office during business hours.

Court Reporters in Civil, Family Law, and Probate Matters

The Court does not provide court reporters for the following matters:

  • Civil 
  • Family Law (except termination of parental rights, requests to withdraw consent to adoption, and in chambers child testimony)
  • Unlawful Detainers (landlord-tenant disputes)
  • Misdemeanor Criminal
  • Traffic
  • Probate (except LPS Conservatorship and Writs)
     

The Court is not required to provide a court reporter in the above case types. However, a court reporter may have been present at one or more hearings in some of these case types. If a court reporter was present and you would like to request a transcript you will need to contact the court reporter or their agency directly.

If you do not know the name of the court reporter, please contact the appropriate division of the Court to request that information. An alternative is to get their business address from the Department of Consumer Affairs Court Reporters Board of California website. Click on License Verification and enter the name of the court reporter.

For more information on the availability of court reporters please click here. 

Fee Waivers & Requests for Court Reporter

Parties who qualify for a Fee Waiver may request court reporter services by submitting Judicial Council Form FW-020 (Request for Court Reporter by Party with Fee Waiver).  

Please note: The court is not obligated to provide transcripts free of charge to a party who has been granted a fee waiver. (See Jameson v. Desta (2018) 5 Cal.5th 594, 623-625). Assistance may be available through the Transcript Reimbursement Fund. 

Party May Procure Reporter 

If the services of an official court reporter are not available for a hearing in a civil, family or probate case, a party may,  by stipulation, arrange for the appointment of a privately retained certified shorthand reporter.  In these cases, it is the party's responsibility to pay the reporter's fee for the attendance at the proceeding.

 Appointment of Official Reporter Pro Tempore (local Form RP-001) must be completed and presented to the Judicial Officer at the time of the hearing. 

Information for Court Reporters

Effective September 1st, 2023, an Official Court Reporter or Official Court Reporter Pro Tempore of the Sonoma County Superior Court shall deliver a transcript in electronic form as specified in Code of Civil Procedure section 271. 

An electronic transcript is deemed to be an original for all purposes unless a paper transcript is delivered under any of the exceptions listed in CCP 271 (a)(1).

The Court will not duplicate or provide copies from the electronic file unless allowable by law.  All copies will be required to be ordered directly from the Court Reporter. 

Submitting Claim Forms

Staffed court reporters and reporters pro tempore can locate Sonoma County Reporter Claim Form here. 

Claim forms should be submitted via email to  reportercoordinators@sonomacourt.org or delivered to 600 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 to the attention of the Court Reporter Coordinators.

Locations

  • Recordings

    Hall of Justice
    Archived Records Department
    600 Administration Dr, Room 110-J
    Santa Rosa CA 95403
    Office Hours: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM Mon-Fri
     

  • Reporter Coordinators Office

    Hall of Justice
    600 Administration Dr, Room 108-J
    Santa Rosa CA 95403
    Office Hours: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM Mon-Fri

Locations & Contact Info

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