How to Order a Court Transcript in Ontario
The first step to ordering a transcript is to contact an Authorized Court Transcriptionist, or ACT for short. Each transcriptionist has their own intake process, but most will ask for basic information about your case. In my case, I’ll ask a few general questions such as the nature of the hearing, whether you need the entire proceeding or an excerpt, and the approximate length of the proceeding. Once I have this information, I will send you a Transcript Order Form. You may also download a copy at the link below. Once completed, send it back to your transcriptionist, who will fill out their section and submit it to the court on your behalf.
Sub‑link (kept as requested):
Transcript Order Form (external)
Download the Transcript Order Form
How Much Does a Transcript Cost?
In Ontario, transcript fees are set by the Ministry of the Attorney General under O. Reg. 145/22. If you request your transcript with a turnaround time of six or more business days, the rate is $6.30 per page. A five‑day or less expedite is available at $8.80 per page, and a 24‑hour rush is $11.75 per page. Additional charges apply for printed pages.
On average, two to three minutes of court time equals one typed page. As a general estimate, one hour of court time costs approximately $189 to transcribe. Estimates are best guesses, and the final price may vary. Note that turnaround times begin when the audio is received, not when the order is placed.
If Your Proceeding Has Been Previously Typed
If your proceeding has already been transcribed, the Record Management Clerk will notify your transcriptionist and provide the name of the original transcriptionist. We are legally required to inform you when this occurs. I will also provide you with the original transcriptionist’s contact information. You may order an electronic copy for $25 per date from the original transcriptionist, or you may choose to have a new transcript prepared at the standard $6.30 per page rate.
Certification
Once a transcript is completed, a certification page is attached confirming that the transcript is a true and accurate reflection of the court proceedings. This certification also confirms that the transcript was prepared by someone legally authorized to do so.
Judicial Review
Certain portions of a transcript—such as rulings, reasons for sentence, reasons for judgment, or a charge to the jury—must be reviewed by the presiding judge before they can be released. This ensures that the written transcript accurately reflects the judge’s decision. There is no set timeline for judicial review, and the duration can vary.