Transcript Request Form

Document Overview

This is a standardized form used in Pennsylvania to request an official transcript or copy of court proceedings. It is governed by the Pennsylvania Rules of Judicial Administration (Pa. R. J. A. ) and applies to the Courts of Common Pleas. The form is designed to be completed by any person requesting a transcript, including attorneys and unrepresented parties.

Key Requirements & Instructions

• Legal Basis: The form must be completed pursuant to Pa. R. J. A. 4007(A).
• Local Rules: Additional requirements may exist for specific judicial districts. Users are directed to the Pennsylvania Courts website (pacourts. us) for local rules.
• Service: Copies of the request must be served in accordance with Pa. R. J. A. 4007(B).
• Economic Hardship: Reduced rates are available for those who qualify under Pa. R. J. A. 4007(E). Proof of authorization or an affidavit (Pa. R. J. A. 4008(B)(4)) is required if claiming this rate.
• Deposit: A deposit determined by local rule may be required.

Form Sections Breakdown

I. Case Information

Requesters must provide:

• Case Caption and Docket Number.
• Presiding Judge's name.
• Date(s) of the proceeding.
• Court Reporter Name (if known).
• Case Type: Checkboxes for Criminal, Civil, Family, Orphans’ Court, or Juvenile.
• Type of Proceeding: Checkboxes for Suppression, Argument, Trial, Plea, Sentence, or "Other. "
• PCRA: Indicate if the case is a Post Conviction Relief Act matter.
• Appeal Status: Indicate if the transcript is for an appeal or part of the Children's Fast Track.

II. Requestor Information

• Identity: Name of Requestor or Attorney ID Number.
• Role: Indicate if you are Counsel for a specific party, Unrepresented, or Not a party to the action.
• Contact Details: Street Address, City, State, Zip, Email, Phone, and Fax.
• Agency/Firm: If applicable, list the agency or firm and whether they are represented in court.

III. Transcript Items Requested

Requesters must specify exactly what parts of the proceeding need to be transcribed:

• Entire proceeding.
• Jury Voir Dire, Opening statements, Closing arguments, or Jury Instructions.
• Testimony (specify each witness).
• Pre/Post trial hearing details.
• Other specific items.

IV. Transcript Delivery and Cost

This section outlines the pricing structure based on delivery speed and format:

Delivery Speed Options:

• Ordinary: Base rate + $2. 50/page.
• Expedited: Base rate + $3. 50/page.
• Daily: Base rate + $4. 50/page.
• Same Day: Base rate + $6. 50/page.

Additional Costs:

• Copy for Requestor: If you want a personal copy, add $0. 50 (Ordinary), $0. 75 (Expedited), $1. 00 (Daily), or $1. 25 (Same Day) per page.
• Hard Copy: Add $0. 25 per page to the page rates if a physical copy is requested instead of Electronic (PDF) format.
• Special Requests: Options for Complex Litigation, Real Time Feed, Minuscript/Condensed, ASCII, or Word Index may incur extra charges.

Payment Notes:

• The first requestor is obligated to pay for the original transcript filed with the court.
• If a personal copy is desired, the requestor pays the copy rate (subject to cost-sharing with other parties).
• Costs payable shall not exceed rates prescribed in Pa. R. J. A. 4008(A)(1) and (D)(1).

For Court Use Only

The final page is reserved for court staff to track:

• Dates of request, deposit receipt, assignment, due date, completion, and sending.
• Calculation of final balance (Estimated Cost less Deposit).
• Confirmation if costs are shared between parties or if it is a photocopy of an existing transcript.