Free Court Reporter Invoice Template & Generator
Build court reporter invoices for depositions, hearings, trials, and real-time transcription services.
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What should a court reporter put on an invoice?
Court reporter invoices list the proceeding, the appearance fee, and the transcript charge, usually billed per page. Note the delivery speed, since expedited transcripts often cost more. Include copies, exhibits, and any rough drafts as separate items so each party's order is clearly itemized.
Your invoice needs the case name, case number, and court location because clients track dozens of cases and their accounting departments will not process vague paperwork. Include the date of the proceeding, the type of service (daily copy, expedited transcript, rough draft), total pages, and your per-page rate. If you provided realtime services or had rush fees, call those out separately. Attorneys need this breakdown to bill their own clients or submit to the court.
Most court reporters require a deposit before delivering transcripts, usually 50% to 100% upfront for new clients or expedited work. Daily copy and rush jobs almost always get paid before you hand anything over. For regular transcripts, you will typically invoice on delivery with net 15 or net 30 terms. Government work often means net 30 whether you like it or not.
Do not release the transcript until payment clears for private attorneys. This sounds harsh, but you have almost zero leverage once they have the file. For law firms you work with regularly, get a credit card on file instead of chasing checks. You will get paid the day you invoice instead of waiting weeks for their accounting cycle.
Typical line items
- Appearance fee, half or full day
- Original transcript per page
- Expedited transcript surcharge
- Copy of transcript per page
- Rough draft delivery
- Exhibit handling and scanning
- Realtime reporting feed
- Travel and waiting time
How the work is charged
Court reporters typically combine an appearance fee for attendance with a per-page charge for the transcript. Expedited delivery, copies, exhibits, and realtime feeds are usually priced as separate line items.
Payment terms and deposits
Law firms and agencies generally pay on net terms after the transcript is delivered. Expedited or rush orders may require payment on delivery, and ordering parties are often billed for the items they request.
Tax and compliance
If you are registered for sales tax or VAT, show it as a separate line with your registration number. Work that crosses state or national lines can change how tax applies, so confirm what applies to you.
Frequently asked questions
How do court reporters charge?
Court reporters charge per page ($3–$7 for original transcript), appearance fees ($150–$350 per half day), and per-copy charges. Real-time feeds, expedited delivery, and video sync add premium fees.
What should a court reporter invoice include?
Include case caption, deposition date, witness name, page count, appearance fee, per-page rate, copy charges, expedited surcharge, and any video synchronization or real-time feed fees.
Should court reporters charge cancellation fees?
Yes. Late cancellations (within 24–48 hours) should be charged an appearance fee since the reporter blocked time. Many firms charge 50–100% of the estimated appearance fee.
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