Obtaining A Transcript of a Court Proceeding

Hearings in the District Court and before Juvenile and Domestic Relations Masters in the Circuit Court are recorded on audiotapes. All hearings before Circuit Court Judges are reported by Official Court Reporters using stenotype or recorded on videotapes or audiotape. The procedures and costs for ordering transcripts are different in each office.

Transcripts From the District Court

If you need to order a transcript of a hearing held before a Judge in the District Court, call (301) 952-4080 or go to Room 168B for civil cases and Room 170B for criminal cases.

Transcripts of Proceedings Before Circuit Court Judges

Records of proceedings before Circuit Court Judges are kept for twelve (12) years. To order a transcript of a hearing held before a Circuit Court Judge, contact the Office of the Court Reporters.

Office of the Court Reporters
(301) 952-3461 Phone
(301) 952-2984 Fax

Information Needed: Case number, the date of the hearing(s) you want transcripts of, the judge's name and the reporter's name. If you have the case number, they can look up the other information for you. You will be asked if you have filed a Notice of Appeal or anticipate noting an appeal to the appellate court.

Cost of Transcripts: Transcripts are charged by the page and vary in price depending on the length of the proceeding and the requested delivery date.

How to Order: If you need information, call (301) 952-3461. If you have all the required information, there follows a form to use when ordering a transcript for purposes of appeal from the Circuit Court to the Court of Special Appeals, as well as a non-appeal transcript order form.

• Transcript Order for Appeal [PDF]
• Nonappeal Transcript Order [PDF]

What Happens After Transcript is Ordered: If the hearing you are requesting was recorded on videotape or by a digital audio recording system, you will be advised of the procedure to obtain a transcription of the videotape or CD. If the hearing was reported by an Official Court Reporter, that court reporter will contact you with the estimated cost to prepare the transcript. Preparation of the transcript will not begin until the requested deposit has been received. The balance is due prior to receipt of the transcript. The money will be paid to the individual who is preparing the transcript. The Court Reporters cannot cash checks or money orders payable to the Clerk of the Court or to the Circuit Court and do not accept credit cards.

Transcripts From Circuit Court Masters' Hearings

If you need to order a transcript of a hearing held in the Circuit Court before a Juvenile or Domestic Relations Master, call the Family Division at (301) 780-8000 or go to Room 080M in the courthouse. To prepare the transcript, you must first obtain a copy of the recorded audio of the hearing by filing a request with the staff of the Family Division Information and Referral Center. Note: Copies of the recorded audio of hearings before Circuit Court Masters are retained for two years. The cost is $20.00, payable to Prince George's County, for the CD and mailing costs. The CD will be prepared and mailed to you. Once you receive the CD, you must take it to a court reporting service for typing. Court reporters are listed in the telephone book. A transcript is required to file exceptions to the Master's decision. (See information in the Family Division for further information on filing exceptions.)