Whatcom County Superior Court serves the northwestern corner of Washington State — Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine, and the communities stretching to the Canadian border. Vernon Court Reporters is on the Whatcom County approved transcriptionist list and can begin work on your transcript as soon as you have the recording.
Judge Departments vs. Commissioner Hearings
Whatcom County Superior Court has five judges across five departments, and each judge employs a dedicated court reporter. If your hearing was before a judge in Departments 1 through 5, contact that department’s court reporter directly to arrange a transcript — Vernon does not transcribe stenographic records.
Commissioner hearings are different. Those proceedings are electronically recorded, and transcripts must be prepared by a court-approved transcriptionist. That is where we come in. If your hearing was before a Commissioner — a custody motion, a protection order, a civil matter — we can transcribe it.
Not sure which type of hearing you had? Check the Whatcom County approved transcriptionist page or contact the Clerk’s Office for guidance.
How to Get Your Audio Recording
Commissioner hearing recordings are ordered through the Clerk’s Office at the Whatcom County Courthouse, 3rd floor, Suite 301. CDs are $25 per hearing and are ready within 24 to 48 hours of payment — one of the faster turnarounds in the state.
Turn Your Recording Into a Certified Transcript
- Register an account on our platform.
- Order your CD from the Whatcom County Clerk’s Office, Suite 301, 3rd floor. Cost is $25 per hearing, ready in 24–48 hours.
- Upload your audio or share the download link through our platform and get an instant quote.
- Submit your request — we transcribe, certify, and deliver your transcript ready for filing.
Who We Help in Whatcom County
Most of our Whatcom County work comes from Commissioner hearings — family law motions, protection orders, and civil matters. We also work with criminal defense attorneys who need a record of electronically recorded proceedings, and self-represented parties managing their own cases.
Whatcom County’s proximity to the Canadian border brings a small but consistent stream of cross-border family law matters — custody disputes and support cases involving parties on both sides of the line. Those cases move through the same Commissioner courtrooms and follow the same transcript process.
Why Choose Vernon Court Reporters
We have been serving Washington courts for over 40 years. Every transcript is verbatim and certified for official use.
Vernon is approved in courts across western Washington, including Snohomish County, Clallam County, and King County.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which Whatcom County courtrooms does Vernon Court Reporters cover?
- Vernon is approved for electronically recorded proceedings — Departments 4 and 5, and all Commissioner hearings. Departments 1, 2, and 3 use official court reporters; contact those reporters directly for transcripts from those departments.
- How much does it cost to get a CD of my hearing from Whatcom County?
- Audio CDs from Whatcom County Superior Court are $25 per hearing and are typically ready within 24 to 48 hours of payment. Contact the Clerk’s Office at (360) 778-5618 or [email protected].
- What is GR 35?
- GR 35 is Washington State General Rule 35, which requires every Superior Court to maintain a list of approved transcriptionists. Only transcriptionists on that list can prepare official certified transcripts of electronically recorded court proceedings for use on appeal.
- Can I order a transcript if I am representing myself?
- Yes. We regularly work with self-represented litigants. The process is the same regardless of whether you have an attorney.
