Court Reporters
Court Reporters are responsible for making a verbatim record of proceedings held in the courtroom.
Official court reporters are normally available in felony criminal matters, juvenile matters, family support matters heard by the Family Law Commissioner, and mental health matters. To the extent available, the court will provide official court reporters for civil, family law, and probate calendars. If an official court reporter is unavailable, parties may stipulate to use the electronic recording equipment in the assigned courtroom.
Effective March 25, 2024, pursuant to Administrative Order 2024-0322, except for Family Support matters handled by the Family Support Commissioner, court reporters will no longer be provided for evidentiary hearings, court trials and jury trials, in civil, family law, and probate matters. Where court reporters are not provided, parties may privately arrange and pay for an official court reporter pro tempore. Reduction in Court Reporter Services Notice
A party who has been granted a waiver of court fees and costs may request the services of an official court reporter, free of charge, for a proceeding for which a reporter is not normally provided. The request should be made using form SC-1048 - Request for Court Reporter by a Party with a Fee Waiver and must be filed with the clerk at least 10 days before the proceeding, or at the time the proceeding is scheduled if less than 10 days away. Failure to comply with this request procedure may result in the court being unable to provide a court reporter or a continuance of the hearing. Party or parties to the case who do not qualify for a waiver of court fees and costs will be responsible for the fees.
Before You Submit a Request
How your proceeding was recorded determines which form to use and where to send it.
Most felony, juvenile, and some civil proceedings are recorded by a court reporter. Small claims, ex parte, and some other proceedings are electronically recorded.
If you are unsure how your proceeding was recorded, you may request a copy of the minute order for your hearing date from Court Records. The minute order will identify the method of recording and, if a court reporter was present, the reporter's name.
Once you know how your proceeding was recorded, follow the instructions below for the applicable request type.
If your matter was electronically recorded, you may purchase a digital copy of the recording from Court Administration. Please fill out SC-1006 Request for Audio Recording and email the request to ccruz@sbcourts.org for Santa Barbara, or eguzman@sbcourts.org for Santa Maria and Lompoc.
Please allow up to 5 business days for the court to process your request.
The court does not transcribe electronic recordings unless they are submitted by the Appeals Clerk for a pending appeal.
If you need a written transcript of an electronically recorded proceeding, you may arrange transcription independently through a certified shorthand reporter or a transcription service of your choosing. Resources for finding a qualified provider include the Court Reporters Board of California directory at courtreportersboard.ca.gov, as well as general professional directories and search engines. The court does not endorse or recommend any specific provider.
If you are unsure whether your proceeding was court-reported or electronically recorded, you may request a copy of the minute order from Court Records.
If a court reporter was present at your hearing, you may request a transcript by completing SC-1044 Request for Transcript and emailing it to transcripts@sbcourts.org.
Please allow up to 5 business days for the court to process your request and notify the assigned court reporter.
Once the reporter has been notified, the reporter will contact you directly. From that point, all communication regarding cost estimates, turnaround time, payment, and delivery will be between you and the reporter. The court does not set transcript production timelines or fees: transcript rates are governed by statute (Government Code sections 69950-69954).
Regarding Turnaround Time
Transcript production timelines are determined by the assigned court reporter based on their current workload, including any pending appeal transcripts that take statutory precedence. The court cannot guarantee specific production timelines.
To Help Us Process Your Request Promptly
Please include the following on the SC-1044:
- Case name and number
- Date(s) of the proceeding
- Department or judge name
- Court reporter's name (if known)
Multiple Hearing Dates
If you are requesting transcripts for multiple hearing dates, please list all dates on a single SC-1044 form. Different dates may have been covered by different reporters. The court will route your request to each reporter, and each reporter will contact you separately.
If You Do Not Know the Court Reporter's Name
You may request a copy of the minute order from Court Records, which will identify the assigned reporter. You may also search the Court Reporters Board of California's public license directory at courtreportersboard.ca.gov for reporter contact information.
Older Cases and Note Retention
Court reporters may no longer be employed by the court. Reporter notes are retained in accordance with Government Code section 69955 and the court's General Order Re Destruction of Court Reporters' Notes (dated April 3, 2026). Under the General Order, notes taken in civil cases prior to January 1, 2021, and notes taken in criminal cases prior to January 1, 2016, are authorized for destruction. Notes in capital felony cases are retained indefinitely. If notes have been destroyed, no transcript can be produced. The CRB license directory linked above may help you locate a reporter who is no longer with the court.
Fee Waivers and Transcript Requests
Under California Rule of Court 8.835, fee waivers apply only to transcripts requested in connection with a filed appeal. Fee waivers do not cover general transcript requests. If your request is not associated with a filed appeal, you will need to arrange payment directly with the reporter.
Confidential Cases
If your case is sealed or confidential, additional access requirements apply. Please submit your request to transcripts@sbcourts.org and include your case number. The court will contact you regarding next steps.
Juvenile Proceedings
Transcript requests for juvenile proceedings may be submitted to transcripts@sbcourts.org. These requests are subject to review by the Juvenile Division before any transcript is released.
Parties may arrange for the appointment of a court-approved official court reporter pro tempore for any matter for which a reporter is not normally provided. Below is the link to the pre-approved official reporter pro tempore list contact information.
Approved Official Reporter Pro Tempore List Contact Information
Please note there can only be one official record of court proceedings and only one reporter appointed by the court may report a court proceeding. When a party arranges for a reporter, the reporter must be appointed as an official reporter pro tempore before the hearing begins. Every reporter who is not otherwise on the pre-approved list of reporters pro tempore shall complete and sign SC-1046 - Agreement and Order RE Appointment of Official Reporter Pro Tempore.
The party arranging for an official reporter pro tempore is responsible for paying the reporter’s fees although the parties may arrange to share the fees. Parties should agree to the selected reporter prior to the hearing date. If the parties are unable to agree on a reporter, the court will select the reporter to be used.
If you would like to be added to the court's pre-approved official reporter list, please fill out form SC-1047 - Agreement for Pre-Approved Official Reporters Pro Tempore List and submit to the court via email to lcordero@sbcourts.org.
If you are an official reporter pro tempore, please review the Guide for Official Reporters Pro Tempore prior to your arrival at the designated courthouse.