For your convenience, listed below are answers to commonly asked questions.

There is a per-page rate for the production of trial transcripts.

When a transcript of an audio-taped hearing is required, the ordering party must complete a transcript order form available in the Court Reporters’ Office, Room 805 Manor Building, 564 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, telephone 412.350.5414.

A deposit is required for any Family Court proceeding; this will be applied toward the final cost of the transcript. An additional deposit may be required, depending on the length of the proceeding. The transcript will then be completed by an assigned Court Reporter.

The total cost of a transcript is determined by the length of the hearing.

Once the Court Reporter receives the formal request form, he/she will notify the ordering party of the estimated transcript cost and will ask for one-half of the estimated cost before beginning production of said transcript. The remainder of the cost will be required before the ordering party can receive the completed transcript.

A Request for Transcript form must be completed and returned to the Court Reporter’s Office. This form can be picked up from the Manor Building, 564 Forbes Avenue, Suite 804, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, or it can be mailed to you by calling 412.350.5414.

The case name as it appears on your paperwork, the type of proceeding, date of the proceeding and the name of the judge or hearing officer. The name, address and telephone number of the individual who is requesting the transcript and who will be responsible for payment upon completion of the transcript is also required.

No. A transcript is not produced from the Court Reporters’ notes until it is ordered. When the Court Reporter provides you with the deposit amount, you can ask for the approximate date of delivery of the transcript. Only the Court reporter can give you a fairly accurate time frame for production of the transcript. Once completed, you will be notified of the completion and the amount owed. At that time, you should make arrangements for pickup or delivery of the transcript.

An incarcerated individual can write to the trial judge and request a copy of the Court proceeding(s) in question. If the judge determines the individual should receive a copy of the trial transcript(s) but cannot pay, a Court order will be issued ordering the specific Court reporter(s) to produce the transcript(s), and the costs will be paid by Allegheny County. Also, an indigent individual can appear before his/her trial judge or the motions judge of the appropriate division of the Courts and request an “In Forma Pauperis” status. If the judge so determines that an individual is indigent, a Court order will be issued that places the costs of producing the transcript upon Allegheny County. The Court order must then be attached to the transcript request form and brought to the Office of the Court Reporters for processing.

Please see the local rule of Judicial Administration Governing Transcripts for additional information on how to seek a waiver of transcript costs for economic hardship.

If you are requesting a transcript for an appeal in the Civil, Criminal or Orphans’ Court Division, the white copy should be attached to the original appeal to be properly filed. Copies of the signed and dated request form should be made and attached to every copy of the appeal.

If you are requesting a transcript to enable exceptions to be filed in the Family Division, the signed and dated request form should be returned to the Exceptions Clerk for further instructions.

The payment is for an original and one copy. The transcript that you receive is your copy to reference when writing your brief. The Court reporter files the original transcript in the proper office once he/she receives full payment.