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Court Reporter Information / Requesting Transcripts

Policy Changes

Regarding Normal Availability and Unavailability of Official Court Reporters

In line with CCP §269(a)(1), and California Rules of Court, rule 2.956, the Riverside Superior Court is modifying its official court reporter policy. Effective January 29, 2024, the Riverside Superior Court’s policy regarding the normal availability and unavailability of official court reporters will be changing as follows:

  • Official court reporters will be provided in felony criminal cases, criminal trials, juvenile, probate, writ of habeas corpus matters, civil restraining orders under Code of Civil Procedure §§ 527.6, 527.8, and 527.85, and any other proceedings in which an official court reporter is mandated by law. At the court's discretion, court reporters may be provided in family law matters when available. If the services of an official reporter are not available in family law, it will be defined in the court's Notice of Availability of Official Court Reporting Services.
  • Unless otherwise required by law, official court reporters will not be available for infractions, small claims, limited civil cases, unlimited civil cases and civil petitions. Official court reporters will not be provided for hearings in the Appellate Division.
  • The Riverside Superior Court will provide electronic recording services for traffic court trials and unlawful detainer proceedings.

The Notice of Availability of Official Court Reporting Services identifies availability and unavailability of official court reporters for each department and is available on the court’s website under 'Availability of Official Court Reporters'. Official court reporters will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

In civil proceedings, a party who has received a fee waiver may request an official court reporter pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 2.956(b)(3) at least 10 calendar days prior to a trial or hearing by submitting Judicial Council form FW-020. The court, for good cause, may shorten or waive the 10-day requirement. The clerk will notify the party as soon as possible if no official court reporter will be available. Given the general unavailability of official court reporters, final notice of the availability of a court reporter may not be known until the day of the hearing.

The court is not obligated to provide court reporter transcripts free of charge to a party who has been granted a waiver of court fees and costs (See Jameson v. Desta (2018) 5 Cal.5th 594, 623-625).

Assistance may be available through the Transcript Reimbursement Fund (external site ). Additional information about the Transcript Reimbursement Fund is available on the Court Reporters Board of California (external site ) website.

 

General Order

Forms:

This form shall be completed when retaining a court reporter pro tempore that is not listed on the list of court-approved official reporter pro tempore.

This form shall be completed when selecting a court reporter pro tempore from the list of court approved court reporter pro tempores.

The proceedings for which official court reporters shall normally be provided will be posted in the clerk’s office at each court facility. Below you will find the posted Notices of Availability of Court Reporters.

What information do I need to request a transcript of court proceedings?

The following information will be required before a transcript can be prepared:

  • Name of Court Reporter
  • Case Number
  • Date of Proceedings
  • Name of Judicial Officer / Department

If you need to locate any of the above information, you can obtain it by Searching Court Records.

The name of the court reporter who reported the hearing is located in the minute order for that hearing date. All the information needed for the Transcript Request Form may be viewed online or on the public terminals that are located in the clerk’s or self-help offices at each court facility.

Please check the lists of court reporters below to determine how the request for transcripts should be made.

How Do I Request a Court Transcript?

Requesting transcripts from current staff official court reporters:

If the court reporter is a current staff official court reporter, complete the Online Transcript Request Form and submit it electronically;

Transcript Request

Or, complete the Transcript Request Form (pdf ) and mail the form to the Supervising Court Reporter as indicated on the form.

Current Official Court Reporter Public Directory (pdf)

Requesting transcripts from non-staff official court reporters:

If the reporter is a non-staff official court reporter, you will need to contact the court reporter directly to request transcripts.

Non-Staff Official Court Reporter Public Directory (pdf )

If you cannot locate the name of the court reporter, please contact the California Court Reporters Board (external site ).

Requesting Transcripts on Juvenile Cases:

A party requesting a transcript on a juvenile case must submit a Request for Disclosure of Juvenile Case File (JV-570) to the juvenile clerk’s office. This process will not apply to transcript requests from the Appeals Department or from attorneys on the juvenile case such as Juvenile Defense Panel and County Counsel. More information on the disclosure process is available on the Juvenile Division page under 'Access to Juvenile Records'.

How much will my transcript cost?

Once the court reporter receives your transcript request, the reporter will contact you. The reporter will give you the estimated or actual cost of the transcript. The reporter will discuss payment for the transcript, the length of time it will take to complete the transcript, and delivery options. The reporter will respond to any other questions you may have regarding your transcript request.

The Transcript Reimbursement Fund (external site ) was established to provide transcript reimbursement costs to indigent litigants in civil matters.

What if I need my transcript A.S.A.P.?

If your request is urgent, please indicate that on the request form in the comment box. The reporter should respond within two (2) business days. If not, contact the appropriate regional supervisor.

In some cases it may not be possible for a court reporter to provide a transcript on a rush basis, but every effort will be made to meet the request.

Please keep in mind the following:

  • Court reporters work in court all day; response time may not be immediate.
  • You will be required to send in a payment payable to the individual reporter. The reporter will not begin preparation of the transcript until payment is received.
  • Time required for delivery of the transcript varies depending on the length of the transcript and the court reporter’s workload.

How far back in time can I request a transcript?

According to state law (Government Code § 68152(j)(7), the court reporters’ notes for criminal cases are destroyed after ten years, and notes for civil cases are destroyed after five years. The notes for death penalty cases are never destroyed.

Proceedings older than ten years may no longer be available to be transcribed.

In civil proceedings, a party who has received a fee waiver pursuant to California Rules of Court rule 3.55 may request an official court reporter pursuant to California Rules of Court rule 2.956(b)(3) at least 10 calendar days prior to a trial or hearing. The court, for good cause, may shorten or waive the 10-day requirement.

The clerk will notify the party as soon as possible if no official court reporter will be available. Given the general unavailability of official court reporters, final notice of the availability of a court reporter may not be known until the day of the trial or evidentiary hearing.

To request court reporting services the party must complete and submit the following form:

Judicial Council Form FW-020 (external site pdf )

There is a difference between paying “court reporter appearance fees” and “purchasing a transcript.” Court reporter appearance fees are collectible in any civil case, which includes all matters other than criminal and juvenile matters (Government Code § 68086(a)1-3).

Court reporter appearance fees shall be due and payable from the beginning of hearing or trial.

“Beginning” is defined as the moment the matter is assigned to the trial court and the judicial officer calls the action for trial or hearing.

Unless the Court orders otherwise for good cause, a half-day fee shall be charged for any matter lasting more than one hour. A full day shall be charged for any matter lasting more than four hours.

  1. All parties shall deposit their pro rata share of court reporter appearance fees with the clerk of the court on the beginning court day and each succeeding court day thereafter.
  2. Court reporter appearance fees must be deposited in the appropriate court location and division.
  3. For any hearing estimated to last more than one hour, each party shall deposit their pro rata share of $440.00. For any hearing estimated to last more than four hours, each party shall deposit their pro rata share of $880.00.
  4. If, for whatever reason (fee waiver/governmental agency), one side is not required to post fees, the other side(s) shall still be responsible for their pro rata share.
  5. Any delay in payment or deviation from the above procedures shall immediately be referred to the trial judge for resolution.

When purchasing a transcript from an individual court reporter, the person or party is contracting with that individual court reporter for the actual transcript of the proceedings. Transcript costs are governed by Government Code Section 69950.   All arrangements for preparation, delivery and payment of transcript are between the requesting party and the individual court reporter.