HOW TO REQUEST A REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS
(TRANSCRIPTS)
NOTE: If there are any words or terms used in these
instructions that you do not understand, please visit
Illinois Legal Aid Online at
illinoislegalaid.org/lexicon/glossary. For more information
about going to court including how to fill out and file
forms, call or text Illinois Court Help at 833-411-1121 or
go to ilcourthelp.gov.
What is a Request for Report of Proceedings
(Transcripts)?
o The Report of Proceedings (Transcripts) is a typed
record of a hearing or trial. It includes what the
judge, the parties, the witnesses, and the lawyers
said or testified to in court. This typed record is also
called a Transcript.
o The appellate court must have the Report of
Proceedings (Transcripts) to figure out if the trial
court’s decision is right.
o If you do not file a Report of Proceedings
(Transcripts), the appellate court may think that the
trial court judge made the right decision.
o If the court proceedings were not recorded, see the
instructions for How to Prepare a Bystander's Report
or Agreed Statement of Facts and related forms at
illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-
forms.
Who can use the Request for Report of Proceedings
(Transcripts) form?
o The person who files the appeal (the appellant) must
make sure the record on appeal is complete.
o A complete record on appeal must include a typed
record of what was said or done in court while it was
in session. This is called the Report of Proceedings
(Transcripts).
o A court reporter may have recorded the hearing or
trial, or the court may have made an audio or video
recording. If there were multiple hearings, a court
reporter may have recorded some of them and the
court’s audio equipment may have recorded others.
What forms do I need to fill out for the Request for
Report of Proceedings (Transcripts)?
o You need to fill out the Request for Report of
Proceedings (Transcripts) if the trial or hearing was
recorded.
o The email address (if you have one) and mailing
address you put on the (Form Name) is where
important legal documents will be sent to you. You
should use an email account that you do not share
with anyone else and that you check every day. If
you do not check your email every day, you may
miss important information and documents from
other parties.
o If the court provided the court reporter, ask the
trial court clerk’s office how to contact them.
o If the court made an audio or video recording,
ask the trial court clerk's office how to contact
the person who will type the Report of
Proceedings (Transcripts).
o In some counties, like Cook County, a private
court reporter may have recorded the hearing or
trial. If you hired a private court reporter, you can
call the court reporter to find out where to deliver
your Request for Report of Proceedings
(Transcripts). If the other party hired the court
reporter, you should contact that party (or their
attorney, if they have one) to get the name and
telephone number of the court reporter. Then
contact the court reporter to find out where to
deliver your Request for Report of Proceedings
(Transcripts).
o Even if the other party hired the court reporter,
you must use the Request for Report of
Proceedings (Transcripts) form to ask the court
reporter to type the Transcripts.
o When you find out who the court reporter was or
who will type the Report of Proceedings
(Transcripts), you need to deliver the Request
for Report of Proceedings (Transcripts) to that
person.
Where can I find the form I need?
You can find the form at: illinoiscourts.gov/documents-
and-forms/approved-forms.
How much does it cost when I use the Request for
Report of Proceedings (Transcripts)?
o You don’t pay to use this form if you drop off the
Request for Report of Proceedings (Transcripts)
yourself. If you deliver the Request for Report of
Proceedings (Transcripts) by mail or third-party
commercial carrier (e.g., FedEx or UPS), you must
pay postage or delivery fees. In either case, you
must pay the court reporter for the cost of the
transcripts.
o Court reporters will tell you how much the transcripts
will cost when you request them. Most court
reporters will require you to pay them at least half of
the cost of the transcripts when you request them.
o Transcripts can be expensive. However, if you don’t
file the Request for Report of Proceedings
(Transcripts), the appellate court may think that the
trial court judge made the right decision and you will
lose your appeal.
Find Illinois Supreme Court approved forms at: illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms.
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When do I have to deliver the Request for Report of
Section 2
Proceedings (Transcripts)?
o Write the date, time, and courtroom of each hearing
o You must deliver the Request for Report of
Proceedings (Transcripts) to the court reporter as
soon as you can. This is because you must attach a
copy of the Request for Report of Proceedings
(Transcripts) to your Docketing Statement when you
file it. You can find the Docketing Statement at
illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-
forms.
o When you deliver the Request for Report of
Proceedings (Transcripts) to the court reporter who
will type the transcripts, have that person sign your
Docketing Statement. This will show the appellate
court that you requested the Report of Proceedings
(Transcripts). If you mail the court reporter your
Request for Report of Proceedings (Transcripts),
attach a copy of your Request to the Docketing
Statement and sign where indicated in Section 10 of
the Docketing Statement.
o The period for filing the Docketing Statement starts
on the day after you filed the Notice of Appeal (Civil).
You must count weekends and holidays. However, if
the due date falls on a weekend or court holiday,
you may file the Docketing Statement on the next
business day.
o In general, you must e-file the Docketing Statement
within 14 days after you filed the Notice of Appeal
(Civil). However, in some appeals, you must file the
Docketing Statement sooner. See the How to
Complete the Docketing Statement (Civil) at
illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-
forms.
How do I fill out the Request for Report of
Proceedings (Transcripts)?
You use the Request for Report of Proceedings
(Transcripts) to ask the court reporter to type the
transcripts for each hearing that took place.
o Fill out the form online or print it and fill it out by
hand. If you fill it out by hand, you must print neatly.
Case Name
o Fill in this section the same way you filled it out on
the Notice of Appeal (Civil).
Section 1
o In Section 1a, check the box if a court reporter
recorded the trial or hearings. Write the name and
address of the court reporter.
o In Section 1b, check the box if the court recorded
the trial or hearings with audio or video equipment.
Write the name and address of the Administrator of
Court Reporters. You can ask the trial court clerk’s
office for this information.
you want the court reporter to type for you. You must
give this information for every hearing that is
important to your appeal. Attach an Additional
Transcripts form if you need room to list more
hearings.
Section 3
o Write the name, address, email, and phone number
of the other party or their attorney.
o If there are multiple parties or attorneys, use the
Additional Parties or Attorneys form and attach it to
the Request for Report of Proceedings (Transcripts).
Section 4
o At the end of the Request for Report of Proceedings
(Transcripts), sign your name and clearly write your
name, address, telephone number, and email
address.
What do I do after I fill out the form?
o Make copies for all parties.
o Serve the other party or their lawyer if they have
one. If you and the person you're sending the
Request for Report of Proceedings (Transcripts) to
have an email address, you must send it by email or
by notification through the e-filing system. If you or
the person you’re sending the Request for Report of
Proceedings (Transcripts to does not have an email
address, you may give it to the other parties by
personal hand delivery, mail, or third-party
commercial carrier (for example, FedEx or UPS).
o Deliver the Request for Report of Proceedings
(Transcripts) to the court reporter. You may deliver
the Request for Report of Proceedings (Transcripts)
by hand, by mail, or by a third-party commercial
carrier (e.g., FedEx or UPS).
o After you deliver the Request form to the court
reporter, you must file a copy of your Request with
the Docketing Statement that you file with the
appellate court.
Find Illinois Supreme Court approved forms at: illinoiscourts.gov/documents-and-forms/approved-forms.
RT-I 4502.2
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