Table of contents

Courtroom transcripts

A courtroom transcript:

  • can only be ordered online
  • is a verbatim record of what was said in court or a legal proceeding
  • may be used for review or reference

Emergency Protection Order hearing transcripts

You cannot order a transcript for an Emergency Protection Order hearing online.

Read how to respond to an Emergency Protection Order.

Publication bans or restrictions

This notice appears on the cover page of certified transcripts:

“This transcript may be subject to a publication ban or other restriction on use, prohibiting the publication or disclosure of the transcript or certain information in the transcript such as the identity of the party, witness, or victim. Persons who order or use transcripts are responsible to know and comply with publication bans and restrictions. Misuse of the contents of a transcript may result in civil or criminal liability.”

Read the Public and Media Access Guide – on the court’s Media page – for more information.

Timelines, fees and estimates

Service timelines

Fees are based on turnaround time. You can choose one of these turnaround times:

  • 2 business days
  • 5 business days
  • 10 business days
  • 30 calendar days

The turnaround time starts the next business day for orders placed after 3 pm. When the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, or Government of Alberta office closure, the transcript will be delivered on the next business day.

Your transcript will be released by 4:30 pm on the due date.

Service fees

Table 1. Transcription fees

Turnaround time Rate (dollars)
2 business days 0.0072/character
5 business days 0.0062/character
10 business days 0.0052/character
30 calendar days 0.0040/character

The transcription fees in Table 1 are outlined in Alberta Rules of Court, Division 4 – Tariff of Fees Payable for Court Reporting Services.

Estimating your order's cost

TMS does not provide estimates over the phone or by email.

The following information may help to estimate your cost:

  1. One hour of transcribed court time is approximately 45 pages.
  2. The average character count per page is 1,200.

The table below shows estimated transcription costs for one hour of court time – approximately 45 pages – with an average character count of 1,200 per page:

Table 2. Transcription costs – for example only

Turnaround time Court time transcribed Cost estimate
2 business days 1 hour $389
5 business days 1 hour $335
10 business days 1 hour $281
30 calendar days 1 hour $216

Get a cost estimate online

You can get an online cost estimate of your transcript order:

  1. Create an online account at Transcripts Digital Service.
  2. Enter the start and end time of your case.
  3. Choose a turnaround time.

The system estimates the cost of your order like it is a completely new transcript being made. Your credit card is pre-authorized for that amount. The final cost might be different – it depends on the final character count of the transcript. The cost will be lower if a previously produced transcript already exists for that proceeding. Previously produced transcripts cost $0.40 per page.

Order a transcript online

You cannot order a transcript for an Emergency Protection Order hearing online.

Read how to respond to an Emergency Protection Order.

Step 1. What you need

You need a credit card to order a transcript. Contact TMS if you don't have one.

Gather the following information:

1. Hearing details

  • date to be transcribed
  • start and end times
  • court location
  • courtroom number
  • docket or action number
  • party names

2. Commencing documents

  • Statement of Claim
  • Notice of Motion
  • Indictment or Information
  • for Court of Appeal, either:
    • Notice of Appeal, or
    • Application for Permission to Appeal

3. Supporting endorsements

  • sheets of paper where the clerk or judge wrote down what happened each day in court

4. Court-specific documents

  • choose from the drop-down lists below:

Court-specific documents

  • Court of Justice documents

    Family court

    You must upload these documents:

    • application – this shows the parties to the action
    • Endorsement sheet (for the hearing date) – this includes counsel, parties, start times, judge, clerk

    If applicable, you also need to upload these documents:

    • Ban on Publication form
    • case law and / or list of authorities referred to in court

    If you're a party to the action, you may already have these documents. If not, you can get them from the appropriate court by submitting this form:

    Search Request - Civil (PDF, 175 KB)

    If you’re not a party to a child welfare or child protection action, you must obtain a court order before you can order a transcript for that action’s hearing.

    Civil court

    You must upload these documents:

    • civil claim – this shows the parties to the action
    • Endorsement sheet (for the hearing date) – this includes counsel, parties, start times, judge, clerk

    If applicable, you also need to upload these documents:

    • Ban on Publication form
    • case law and / or list of authorities referred to in court

    If you're a party to the action, you may already have these documents. If not, you can get them from the appropriate court by submitting this form:

    Search Request - Civil (PDF, 175 KB)

    Criminal court

    You must upload these documents:

    • Information document – this document is called ‘information’ and will have the spelling of the accused, the victim(s) and list all the charges
    • Endorsement sheet for the hearing date – this includes counsel, parties, start times, judge, clerk

    If applicable, you also need to upload these documents:

    • Endorsement sheet(s) for the co-accused
    • Ban on Publication form
    • case law and / or list of authorities referred to in court

    If you’re a party to the action, you may already have these documents. If not, you can get them from the appropriate court by submitting this form:

    Search Request - Criminal / Traffic (PDF, 93 KB)

    When ordering transcripts for docket court and the matter is spoken to several times in one day and in one courtroom, the client must:

    • indicate the ‘start time’ as the first time the matter was spoken to
    • indicate the ‘end time’ as the last time the matter was spoken to
    • indicate in the ‘language, spelling, instructions’ field each of the specific time frames they wish to be transcribed
    • if the matter was stood down and re-called, the ordering party must indicate each time the matter was spoken

    Bail / hearing office

    You must upload these documents:

    • Information document – this document is called ‘information’ and will have the spelling of the accused, the victim(s) and list all the charges
    • Endorsement sheet (for the hearing date) – this includes counsel, parties, start times, judge, clerk
    • Priority Intake sheet

    If applicable, you also need to upload these documents:

    • Ban on Publication form
    • case law and / or list of authorities referred to in court

    If you're a party to the action, you may already have these documents. If not, you can get them from the appropriate court by submitting this form:

    Search Request - Criminal / Traffic (PDF, 93 KB)

    The client (or ordering party) must select the appropriate hearing office (Edmonton or Calgary) and courtroom where the justice of the peace resides.

    • indicate the ‘start time’ as the first time the matter was spoken to
    • indicate the ‘end time’ as the last time the matter was spoken to
    • indicate in the ‘language, spelling, instructions’ field each of the specific time frames they wish to be transcribed
    • if the matter was stood down and re-called, the ordering party must indicate each time the matter was spoken

    Preliminary inquiries

    Contact the Crown’s office for transcript ordering requirements.

    Traffic court

    You must submit these documents:

    • Violation ticket
    • Endorsement sheet – this includes counsel, parties, start times, judge, clerk

    If applicable, you also need to submit these documents:

    • Ban on Publication form
    • case law and / or list of authorities referred to in court, if possible

    If you’re a party to the action, you may already have these documents. If not, you can get them from the appropriate court by submitting this form:

    Search Request - Criminal / Traffic (PDF, 93 KB)

  • King's Bench documents

    Civil

    You must upload the document that commenced the action (for example: Statement of Claim, Notice of Motion).

    If applicable, you also need to upload these documents:

    • Ban on Publication form
    • case law and / or list of authorities referred to in court

    If you’re a party to the action, you may already have these documents. If not, you can get them from the appropriate court by submitting this form:

    Search Request - Civil (PDF, 175 KB)

    Family law pursuant to Practice Note 10

    If the Application to Restrict Access hasn’t been filed, you need to upload:

    • procedure card showing the entry of an Affidavit of Service on the parties by the requestor – get this from the court location where the matter was filed
    • Affidavit of Service which was served on the parties

    If the Application to Restrict Access has been filed, you need to upload:

    • copy of the court order stating access

    Timelines for the preparation of transcripts in family law court matters will start when you have provided all of your required documents.

    If you're a party to the action, you may already have these documents. If not, you can get them from the appropriate court by submitting this form:

    Search Request - Civil (PDF, 175 KB)

    Criminal

    You must upload these documents:

    • Indictment document – this document is called ‘indictment’ and may have the spelling of the accused, the victim(s) and list all the charges
    • Endorsement sheet for the hearing date – this includes counsel, parties, start times, judge, clerk, court reporter (if present)

    If applicable, you also need to upload these documents:

    • Endorsement sheet(s) for co-accused
    • Ban on Publication form
    • case law and/or list of authorities referred to in court

    If you’re a party to the action, you may already have these documents. If not, you can get them from the appropriate court by submitting this form:

    Search Request - Criminal / Traffic (PDF, 93 KB)

    Resolution services

    For a support application or support variation application, you need to upload these documents:

    • Notice of Hearing
    • Notice of Confirmation Hearing

    If applicable, you also need to submit these documents:

    • Ban on Publication form,
    • case law and / or list of authorities referred to in court

    If you’re a party to the action, you may already have these documents. If not, you can get them from the appropriate court by submitting this form:

    Search Request - Civil (PDF, 175 KB)

    If the matter has gone to court and the client is ordering a transcript, they must include the docket number in the ‘docket / action number’ field (e.g., FL01-1234 , FL-4567 or FF-6789).

  • Court of Appeal documents

    For hearings that happened before January 1, 2019

    To order Court of Appeal hearing transcripts you must upload:

    • the document that commenced the appeal – for example a Notice of Appeal or Application for Permission to Appeal
    • the letter of permission from the Court of Appeal allowing you to order transcripts – contact the Court of Appeal for instructions to get your letter of permission
    • a completed and signed Undertaking to the Court of Appeal for Access to Court Transcript – see page 2 of the document on the court’s Policy on Access to Transcripts of Oral Proceedings page

    If you do not upload these documents, your transcript order will be delayed or cancelled.

    Learn how to get an appeal record.

    For hearings that happened on or after January 1, 2019

    To order Court of Appeal hearing transcripts you must upload:

    • the document that commenced the appeal – for example a Notice of Appeal or Application for Permission to Appeal
    • a completed and signed Undertaking to the Court of Appeal for Access to Court Transcript – see page 2 of the document on the court’s Policy on Access to Transcripts of Oral Proceedings page

    If you do not upload these documents, your transcript order will be delayed or cancelled.

    Learn how to get an appeal record.

  • Sealed documents

    For young offenders / persons, section 119 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act lists who can have access and the time frame without a court order.

    For child welfare / child protection cases (unless party to the action), and early intervention case conferences, only certain people are eligible for these transcripts. There is a time limit as to when these transcripts can be released.

    You may need a court order releasing transcripts and other required documents including commencing documents, statement of claim, endorsements and court information.

    If you’re a party to the action, you may already have these documents. If not, you can get them from the appropriate court by submitting this form:

    Search Request - Civil (PDF, 175 KB)

  • Alberta Review Board hearing documents

    You must upload these documents:

    • disposition
    • reasons for disposition

    Alberta Review Board hearings are often held at the Alberta Hospital in Edmonton or at Forensic Assessment and Outpatient Services in Calgary. They’re not held in courtrooms.

    If you’re a party to the action, you may already have these documents. If not, you can get them from the appropriate court by submitting this form:

    Search Request - Civil (PDF, 175 KB)

Step 2. Place your order

You need a credit card to order a transcript. Contact TMS if you don't have one.

Payment

The estimated cost of your transcript will be pre-authorized to the credit card you entered on the order page, and held until the final cost is determined. Once the transcript is complete, your payment will be processed and the exact cost will be charged to your credit card.

Separate orders

You must place a separate transcript order for each day of a proceeding.

User accounts

You need a user account to place an order:

Order a transcript online

Step 3. Get your transcript

You’ll be sent an email with a link after your payment is processed. This link will allow you to download a PDF of your transcript.

You can only download your transcript if you don’t owe funds to Transcript Management Services, an Alberta government service.

TMS does not give transcript cost estimates over the phone or by email.

Contact

Email is the fastest way to contact TMS if you:

  • have questions about ordering a courtroom transcript
  • do not have a credit card to order the transcript

Transcript Management Services
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:00 pm (Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 403-297-7034

Transcript Management Services does not provide transcriptions of Bar Call ceremonies.

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