What a Court Reporter Does
A court reporter sits quietly in the courtroom or conference room during your hearing, deposition, or trial. They listen to every word spoken and capture it using a stenographic machine, they write down in shorthand through symbols every word spoken (your testimony, the judge's rulings, the other party's arguments, every objection). Nothing is summarized. Everything is verbatim.
After the proceeding, they create a certified transcript from their stenographic notes, which will be properly formatted and certified as the official court record. If you appeal a court ruling, the Court of Appeal may use this transcript to overturn a judge's ruling or to solidify it.
More importantly, a court reporter is neutral and unbiased, meaning thier sole purpose is to protect the record, not to advocate or befriend either side nor attorneys nor judges. It does not matter who hired the court reporter. Their job is to capture every word accurately.
When You Need A Certified Reporter
Family Law Trials
If you are representing yourself in a family law trial (custody & visitation, divorce, property issues, child support, spousal support) the Court may not always have an official reporter available. If there is no court reporter, there is no transcript. Without a transcript, the Court of Appeals will not hae the opportunity to review what actually was said in court. Hiring your own certified reporter is the only way to guarantee a record exists.
Civil Trials
In California Superior Court, civil trial departments do not always have an official court reporter present. If you are in a civil case representing yourself and there is no reporter, you can arrange a pro tempore court reporter for the proceeding. It is important to file the proper documentation to have a court reporter present.
Eviction (unlawful detainer) Hearings
Eviction hearings move fast and the stakes are high. If the judge makes a ruling you believe is wrong, you will need a certified transcript to appeal it. Many pro per tenants and landlords are surprised to learn that small claims and unlawful detainer courtrooms often lack an official reporter. The only way to guarantee there is a record for appealing a court's decision is to make sure you have a court reporter present to preserve your record.​
Taking a deposition
If you need to question a witness under oath before trial, you must hire a certified court reporter to administer the oath and produce a transcript. California does not allow digital court reporting or AI-generated transcripts to be admissible in court. Without a certified court reporter, your transcripts risk being inadmissible in court.​
Step by Step: How to Schedule Your Reporter
01
Call or Submit Intake Form
Call us at (951) 777-1200 during business hours (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm) or fill out our intake form online. We will follow up and explain costs and confirm availability.
02
Confirm Details
After you schedule your matter and all forms are signed, we will send you a confirmation with the reporter's name and any additional information required for your matter.
03
Reporter Attends Matter
​Your reporter will arrive at the courthouse or hearing room before the proceeding starts. The court reporter administers any required oath and records every word spoken verbatim.
04
You receive your transcript
Within the timeframe you requested (same-day, rough draft, standard) you receive a certified electronic transcript. This is the official record you can use in court.
What Will It Cost?
Court reporting fees have two parts: an appearance fee (for the licensed reporter's technological skills, technology connections, and expertise in reporting proceedings) and a per-page transcript fee (formatting, editing, certifying the transcript). Total costs are disclosed upfront with no hidden fees.
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We use QuickBooks for invoicing which offers payment arrangement options through multiple platforms that will be available to you once you are invoiced. This cost-effective approach can be helpful for pro per litigants.
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Call us at (951) 777-1200 to discuss your situation before your hearing.