How to request court audio or a transcript

Why you want it

Memory is not evidence. If you plan to appeal, file a motion for reconsideration, show a pattern of how a judge treats you, or simply prove what a witness said under oath, you need the record. Getting it early is far easier than getting it two years later.

Step 1 — Order the audio

Massachusetts trial courts record proceedings digitally. You request a copy of the recording from the clerk's or register's office in the division where your hearing happened, using the court's transcript/audio request form. You will need the case docket number, the date of the hearing, the courtroom, and the judge's name.

There is a per-recording fee set by the trial court. Ask the clerk for the current amount and the accepted payment method before you go.

Step 2 — Order a transcript if you need one filed

Audio is for you. A transcript is what a court will accept as the record. Transcripts are produced by approved transcribers, not by the clerk, and are billed per page. Once you have the audio order processed, the court can direct you to the approved transcriber list.

If you cannot afford it and you are indigent, you can file an Affidavit of Indigency and Request for Waiver, Substitution or State Payment of Fees. This is a real, commonly granted route — do not assume cost ends the conversation.

Step 3 — Do it fast

Recordings are retained on a schedule, and appeal deadlines are short and unforgiving. If a hearing went badly, order the audio that week.

What not to do

Do not record a hearing yourself. Do not post courtroom audio publicly — Massachusetts rules restrict the use and dissemination of court recordings, and violating them can hurt your case far more than the audio helps it. Use it as evidence, through the process.