Procedure for Requesting a Transcript

The policy and the procedures identified below govern the process of requesting typewritten transcripts from all court reporters within the Rhode Island Judiciary (Judiciary). This policy shall apply to appeal transcripts requested by government agencies, court appointed attorneys, private attorneys, and/or members of the public. ​

How to Request an Appeal Transcript

• For the Superior, Family, and Workers' Compensation Courts:
  
  1.    A requesting party who is a registered user of eFileRI may submit a Request for an Appeal Transcript form through the electronic filing system. Handwritten forms must be legible. 
  
  2.    A requesting party who is not a registered user may submit a Request for an Appeal Transcript form in hard copy either in person or by first class mail to the appropriate office as identified by court and location in the “Contacts by Court" section.  
  
  3.    Note: If the fee for a transcript is waived, a signed court order must be submitted with the Request for an Appeal Transcript form.
  
  
• For the District Court and Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, you must use the Request for a Court Transcript form. This form is to be emailed to a vendor for processing. Instructions on how to fill out the form are included. Handwritten forms must be legible. 
  
  
• All State of Rhode Island agency requests shall include a signature of the chief financial officer and the appropriation account number to be charged for the cost of the transcript. If either the signature of the chief financial officer or the appropriation account number is missing, the Request for an Appeal Transcript form will be returned. 
  

Transcript Estimate

• For the Superior, Family, and Workers' Compensation Courts:
  
  1. A requesting party will receive a transcript estimate by the method designated on the Request for an Appeal Transcript form notifying the requesting party as to the estimated cost for the requested transcript.
  
  2. The costs of transcripts are governed by state law and shall be three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) per page for originals and two dollars ($2.00) per page for copies. See G.L. 1956 § 8-5-5, § 8-10-37, and § 28-35-28.1.​​
  

• For the District Court and Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, a requesting party will receive an estimated processing cost by email.

Payment

• For the Superior, Family, and Workers' Compensation Courts:
  
  1.    Requesting parties will be required to pay the full amount of the estimated cost for the appeal transcript before the transcript will be generated by the court reporter.
  
  2.    Payments will be taken at the court clerk's office from which the proceedings to be transcribed took place and can be either mailed or paid in person. Whether mailing the payment or paying in person, please attach a copy of the Transcript Estimate. “Contacts by Court" contains the appropriate office as identified by court and location responsible for the oversight of transcript requests and payments.
  
  3.    Acceptable forms of payment are as follows: Cash; check (Family Court will only accept certified checks and client account checks); credit card; and money order. 
  
  4.    Upon completion of the transcript by the court reporter, the requesting party will receive a transcript invoice for the transcript. The requesting party will receive a transcript invoice by the method designated on the Request for an Appeal Transcript form. 
  
  5.    A requesting party will be required to either submit supplemental payment or will receive a refund if the estimated amount was greater than the actual cost to produce the transcript.
  

• For the District Court and the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal:
  

          1.    You will receive a deposit fee invoice with directions on how to pay.

          2.    Note: This payment is a deposit only based on an estimated processing time. You may owe additional money once the
          transcript is completed. 

          3.    Once the deposit fee is received, the audio file will be uploaded from the court to Transcription Plus, LLC.

Transcript Completion

• For the Superior, Family, and Workers' Compensation Courts, the appeal transcript will be docketed on the lower court case and will be accessible on re:SearchRI.
  
  
• For the District Court and the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, if there is a balance due upon completion of the transcript, you will be notified by email of the amount and the balance must be paid before you receive the completed transcript.
  

​Cancellation of a Request for an Appeal Transcript

• For the Superior, Family, and Workers' Compensation Courts:
  
  1.    All cancellations of a Request for an Appeal Transcript must be in writing and sent to the office listed “Contacts by Court."
  
  2.    The requesting party will be charged for any pages completed by the court reporter prior to the written notice of cancellation. 
  
  3.    If the transcript has not been started, the requesting party would receive a full refund of the requesting party's deposit.​​​​​​​​