Court Transcripts

[Jackston]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? TX

Not sure if this is the correct place to ask this. Is it possible to get a copy of the court transcript concerning custody and support issues?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[Ronin]

Yes.

Find out from the court or the judges court coordinator who the reporter was at the time of the hearing, contact the reporter, and make arrangements to order and pay for a copy.

 

[Jackston]

Thank you for the reply. I did contact the reporter (message left on voice mail) but never got a reply so was thinking I was ignored because they don't do that. Will keep at it. Thanks again.

 

[Ronin]

Keep trying. But avoid being a pest...

It may be that a small job such as this is low on the list of the reporters priorities at the moment, unless you are an attorney. This is usually a side income for them. If you know who it is, reporters are often pretty approachable early in the mornings shortly before the judge comes into the court. A brief introduction and friendly request is usually pretty effective.

 

[waitinMd]

I've never heard of contacting the court reporter. They are not going to do anything over the phone anyway.

Go to the courthouse, go to the civil dept. Tell them you want to order a transcript of case #xxxx blah blah...

they should give you a form to fill out, then you pay the fee, and you wait for them to mail you either a typed or CD version of the hearing. You must request and pay for each hearing individually.

If you want copies of what is in the case folder, ask for the folder, pay for each copy of every page you wish to copy from that folder. You may not copy or view anything that is in an envelope marked private for the judge....

 

[Ronin]

I've never heard of contacting the court reporter. They are not going to do anything over the phone anyway.

Go to the courthouse, go to the civil dept. Tell them you want to order a transcript of case #xxxx blah blah...

Just because you never heard of it don't mean it ain't so...

OP is from Texas. There are many courts in this state that work exactly in the manner I described. If you go to the civil dept they will point you in the direction of the judges court coordinator who will in turn point you to the reporter. This is from direct personal experience.

 

[Isis1]

Just because you never heard of it don't mean it ain't so...

OP is from Texas. There are many courts in this state that work exactly in the manner I described. If you go to the civil dept they will point you in the direction of the judges court coordinator who will in turn point you to the reporter. This is from direct personal experience.

yeah, i got to admit, that's how we do it here in CA. we just walk up when the court isn't in session, and speak to the court reporter for the transcripts.

 

[Jackston]

I will have to start with the court anyway. This case was a long time ago and I don't recall who the court reporter was anymore. Since I never got a call back I figured it "wasn't done" so I dropped it. I have particular interest in the transcript again. That being said, what happens if that court reporter has moved, died, whatever? Thanks to all for the input.

 

[Ronin]

...what happens if that court reporter has moved, died, whatever?

When that happens it can occasionally be a real PIA to get the transcript. I had one instance where the reporter was incapacitated and unable to do anything. I eventually had another reporter get the recordings and transcribe them.

Transcripts of old hearings are often of little value, unless an appeal of a final judgment is being filed and the transcripts are from hearings during temporary orders.

Even a very short hearing can cost close to a hundred dollars to have the transcipts made.

Since I never got a call back I figured it "wasn't done" so I dropped it.

In Texas recorded hearings are mandatory in contested family law cases unless expressly waived by the parties with the consent of the court. FAM §105.003

 

[Jackston]

If you want copies of what is in the case folder, ask for the folder, pay for each copy of every page you wish to copy from that folder. You may not copy or view anything that is in an envelope marked private for the judge....

Generally, what are the contents of the folder? Would that be pretty much like the papers I received after court? What info might be marked "private" for the judge only? Thanks.

 

[Jackston]

In Texas recorded hearings are mandatory in contested family law cases unless expressly waived by the parties with the consent of the court. FAM §105.003

I probably wasn't clear. I know the hearing was recorded by a court reporter. I thought maybe since she didn't call me back (rather rude) that family court transcripts were sealed or something.

 

[Jackston]

Updating.... Current Court Reporter returned my call this am. Since the case was so long ago she said records have been destroyed. They are kept for 3 years then poof. So much for that avenue. Should have been persistent the first time no one called me back which was within the time frame.

 

[Zigner]

Updating.... Current Court Reporter returned my call this am. Since the case was so long ago she said records have been destroyed. They are kept for 3 years then poof. So much for that avenue. Should have been persistent the first time no one called me back which was within the time frame.

WADR - what did you expect to do after 3 years anyway?

 

[Jackston]

I suppose, at the least, I would have the satisfaction of having a hard copy to show the non believers that in fact perjury was committed.