Communities and Justice
Formal criminal and civil court proceedings in New South Wales are audio recorded or, in some cases, recorded using shorthand.
An official court transcript is a typed record of what was said during a court proceeding. It is prepared from the audio or shorthand record in accordance with legislative requirements.
Transcripts may be used by judicial officers, juries, legal practitioners and people involved in court matters.
A transcript may also be needed if a decision is appealed and a higher court must review what happened in the original proceeding.
need a transcript from a new south wales?
court sitting the online transcript
portal is a simple centralized digital
service that allows anyone to order
track process and receive transcript
orders in one location
by the new south wales online registry
website the online transcript portal is
available across most new south wales
court jurisdictions
applicants can order a transcript using
a simple online form
payments can be processed online via
credit cards
fee exempt agencies and fee waiver
requests can also be managed through the
portal
once submitted email notifications are
sent each time the request progresses
the progress of a request can also be
tracked by the dashboard
the dashboard shows pending tasks active
requests being processed and completed
requests where all written transcripts
requested online are available to
download
for more information and to access the
online transcript portal go to
onlineregistry.lawlink.newsouthwales.gov
dot a u
A transcript is not automatically prepared for every court proceeding.
If you require a written record of what was said during a proceeding, you can request a transcript. A prescribed fee applies.
You may also be able to request a duplicate sound recording of the proceeding for a prescribed fee. Duplicate sound recordings are generally provided on a compact disc (CD).
In some matters, a judicial officer may request that a transcript be prepared each day of the hearing.
You can request a transcript and duplicate sound recording through the Online Transcripts Portal on the NSW Online Registry website.
Using the portal, you can:
You must have an Online Registry account to use the portal. If you do not have an account, you can create one through the Online Registry website.
Note: The online ordering service is not currently available for matters in specialist courts and tribunals, including NCAT, the Dust Diseases Tribunal, the Drug Court and the Children’s Court.
If you are not a party to the case, you must follow the non-party request process for the court where the matter was heard.
If you are unable to order online, complete an order form and submit the request directly to the relevant court where the matter was heard.
Follow the steps below to complete an order form.
1. Download the correct order form for the court.
2. Complete the form, including the reason you require the transcript or recording.
3. Check the prescribed fee and available payment methods.
4. Submit the completed form to the court by email, post or in person.
Visit the Transcript forms and fees page to find the relevant form and lodgement details.
A party to the proceeding, or their legal representative, can request a transcript on payment of the prescribed fee.
If you are not a party, the court or registrar may approve your request. You must provide written reasons explaining why you require the transcript and how it will be used.
Audio recordings of court and tribunal proceedings are generally kept for 10 years and are then destroyed. Court transcripts are State archives and are retained permanently.
Copyright in court transcripts is owned by the State of New South Wales. A transcript must not be copied, reproduced or used in another way without permission from the Reporting Services Branch or the Crown.
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