Legal Transcription Services in Singapore
Have a recording you need to use in a court or tribunal case? We transcribe WhatsApp voice notes, phone calls, videos, interviews and recorded statements word for word, translate them into English if they are in another language, and certify the result. When a court needs it, our transcriber or translator swears an affidavit that the transcript and translation are true. One thing we do not do: transcripts of court hearings. Those are made by the courts' own transcription service, and we show you how to request them.
Quick answer: A certified legal transcript starts from S$8 per audio minute, plus translation if the recording is not in English. Short clips are usually ready in 1 to 2 working days. With a sworn affidavit for court, add from S$250; the set usually takes 2 to 4 working days. It is for law firms, companies in a dispute and people with a court or tribunal case.
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Which Legal Transcript Do You Need?
The route depends on where the transcript is going. Small Claims Tribunals or a neighbour dispute? Card 1. Filing an affidavit in the State Courts, Family Justice Courts or Supreme Court? Card 2. A record of what was said at your own hearing? Card 3.
1. Certified Transcript and Translation
- What you get: A word-for-word transcript with speaker labels and time codes, an English translation if needed, and a signed statement of accuracy with the translator's name and contact details.
- Used for: Small Claims Tribunals, Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals, Employment Claims Tribunals, insurers, mediation and your lawyer's first review.
- Time: Usually 1 to 2 working days for short clips.
- From: S$8 per audio minute, translation quoted per word.
2. Transcript With a Sworn Affidavit (court filings)
- What you get: The same transcript and translation, verified by our transcriber's or translator's affidavit, sworn before a commissioner for oaths, with the transcript and translation as exhibits.
- Used for: Evidence filed in the State Courts, Family Justice Courts (including PPO and divorce cases) and the Supreme Court.
- Time: Usually 2 to 4 working days.
- From: S$8 per audio minute + from S$250 per affidavit.
3. Official Hearing Transcript From the Court
- Who makes it: The courts' transcription vendor.
- Used for: An appeal, or checking what a witness or judge said at your hearing.
- How: Request it from the court through eLitigation (or ICMS, iFAMS or a court form, depending on the case).
- Cost: Set by the court, for example from about S$0.036 to S$0.068 per word for eLitigation transcripts, depending on speed. Paid to the court's vendor, not to us.
One thing we will always tell you straight
We cannot give you an official transcript of a court hearing, and no private company can. The courts' own vendor makes it, and the courts say they will not certify any unofficial transcript as the official record. If a website offers you a "certified High Court transcript", ask where they got the court audio. What we do is different: we transcribe and translate your own recordings, mark every unclear word instead of guessing, and stand behind the work with a signed statement or a sworn affidavit. We also do not call our transcripts "court approved". The court decides what weight to give any evidence.
Legal Transcription and Translation From Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and More
Most recordings in our legal work are in Mandarin, often mixed with English or Hokkien, transcribed in Chinese characters and translated into English; Malay and Indonesian; Tamil; Thai, Vietnamese and Burmese; Japanese and Korean; and English, including Singapore English.
Also: Mandarin mixed with Hokkien or English, and other languages and dialects on request
Every non-English recording gets two layers: a transcript in the language actually spoken, then an English translation that keeps the same time codes. Slang, swear words and short forms are kept as spoken, with a translator's note where English has no exact match. Rarer languages and dialects may cost more and take longer, so tell us the language and we confirm both before we start.
Legal Recordings and Evidence We Transcribe
Send the original file if you can. Forwarded or screen-recorded copies lose sound quality and metadata.
WhatsApp, WeChat and Telegram Voice Notes
One note or a whole thread, in order, with sender names and dates.
Phone Calls and Videos
Customer, contractor, employer or family call recordings. Phone and CCTV videos: what is said and, where useful, what is seen and heard (for example "door slams", "dog barks").
Interviews and Statements
Client and witness interviews, and recorded statements your lawyer has a copy of.
Meetings
Recorded mediation sessions, HR meetings and negotiations.
Written Chats With the Audio
Chat screenshots and letters that go with the recording are translated on our court document translation page, in the same job.
Recordings for the Small Claims Tribunals and Neighbour Disputes
The tribunals set their own rules. For the Small Claims Tribunals, copy the recording onto 2 CDs (one for the tribunal at the State Courts Service Hub, one for the other party), prepare a transcript of the important parts, and upload the transcript to CJTS. If the words are not in English, a certified English translation must be provided. For the Community Disputes Resolution Tribunals, the transcript goes in a table with the time of each part (HH:MM:SS to HH:MM:SS), what is seen, the exact words and the sounds heard, plus a certified English translation made by a professional translator. We prepare the transcript and translation in the format each tribunal asks for. If your recording is short and in English, you can type the transcript yourself; you need us when the words are in another language or the file is long.
How to Get a Legal Transcript, in the Right Order
Many people pay twice: they get a translation without a transcript, or swear an affidavit before the text is final. Follow this order.
Check what your court or tribunal needs
Tribunal: a certified transcript and translation is usually enough. Court filing: plan for the affidavit. Court abroad: affidavit before a Notary Public plus SAL. If you have a lawyer, ask them first.
NDA and secure upload
Firms and companies can sign an NDA with us first. Upload the original file through our secure link, and tell us the start and end times you need, the court or tribunal and your deadline. We reply within an hour with a fixed price.
Transcript, translation and check
A native-speaker typist transcribes the recording word for word. A translator translates it into English. A second linguist checks every word, name and time code against the audio. You or your lawyer get a draft to check before anything is signed or sworn.
Certification, affidavit and delivery
You get a signed PDF, with a paper copy on request. For a court filing, our transcriber or translator swears the affidavit before a commissioner for oaths, and you get the signed paper set plus a PDF for eLitigation. Courier for a small fee, or collect from our office.
Why Lawyers and Litigants Trust Us With Recorded Evidence
What you get with every recording we transcribe for a case.
A Person Who Will Swear to It
The person who transcribes or translates your recording is the person who signs the statement or swears the affidavit, and can explain any word choice if the other side asks.
A Second Check of Every Word and Time Code
A second linguist checks the transcript and translation against the audio. Unclear words are marked [inaudible] with a time code, never guessed.
Confidential Handling
NDA on request, secure upload, files used only for your case, deleted on request with written confirmation, and no public AI tools for your recordings.
Honest Timelines
Short clips usually in 1 to 2 working days; with an affidavit, 2 to 4 working days. If your hearing date is too close for a careful job, we tell you on day one.
A Typical Job: A Mandarin WhatsApp Voice Note for a Company's Small Claims Tribunals Case
A Singapore construction company is in a Small Claims Tribunals case. Its key evidence is a WhatsApp voice note in Mandarin. The company asks for a transcript of the Mandarin recording, an English translation, a signed certification of the translation, and copies of the audio on CD for the tribunal.
Legal Transcription and Translation
Mandarin Transcript
The voice note transcribed word for word in Chinese characters, with time codes.
What the client needed
Construction company with a Small Claims Tribunals case
- A transcript of the Mandarin recording and an English translation.
- A signed certification of the translation, and copies of the audio on CD for the tribunal.
What we did
Transcript, translation and a second check
- Our Mandarin typist transcribes the note word for word in Chinese characters, with time codes.
- A translator translates it into English, keeping the speaker's casual wording rather than tidying it, because the exact words could matter at the hearing.
- A second linguist checks both against the audio.
- The set goes out as a signed certified translation, ready to upload to CJTS.
- The tribunal's guide asks for 2 CDs: one for the tribunal and one for the other party.
How Much Does Legal Transcription Cost in Singapore?
You pay per audio minute for the transcript, per word for the translation, and a fixed fee for each affidavit. You get a fixed price before we start. Several recordings for one case? Send them together for one bundled quote with an itemised breakdown.
Transcript + Translator's Affidavit
2-4 daysplus the transcript and translation
- Sworn before a commissioner for oaths (commissioner's fee included)
- Signed paper set plus a PDF for eLitigation
- For a court abroad: sworn before a Notary Public, then SAL (S$87.20), quoted on request
Certified Legal Transcript
1-2 daysper audio minute; translation per word
- Word-for-word transcript with speaker labels and time codes
- Signed statement of accuracy
- For tribunals, insurers and your lawyer's review
Urgent
Same day*Extra charge
- *Same-day for short clips sent before 11am on a weekday
- Written documents that go with the recording: from S$40 a page, +S$20 a page same day
- The affidavit still needs a commissioner appointment, usually a working day or more
Worked example: a 10-minute Mandarin call recording for a Family Justice Courts case. Mandarin transcript, word for word, with time codes: 10 minutes × S$8 = S$80. English translation of the transcript (about 1,500 words): quoted per word. Translator's affidavit, sworn before a commissioner for oaths: from S$250. Total: from S$330 plus the translation, usually ready in 2 to 4 working days. Your quote shows every line. For comparison, an official transcript of a court hearing comes only from the court's vendor, at the court's per-word rates. Mandarin, Malay and Tamil are standard for us. Rare languages, strong dialects, poor sound and many overlapping voices may cost more or take longer, and we tell you before we start.
What Clients Say
Read what our clients say about our service.
Real Client Experiences
Swipe to read more success stories
Court Recording Handled with Care
"Sending my hearing audio felt stressful at first. Their legal transcription service Singapore team treated the file seriously. Every spoken word appeared properly in writing. Speaker names were marked well...."
Well Structured Legal Transcript
"For my lawyer discussion recording, I wanted proper formatting. The Singapore legal audio typing team arranged everything neatly. Paragraphs were easy to follow. Nothing sounded misplaced. The document looked professional..."
Dependable Support for Case Notes
"My mediation audio had many interruptions. Still, the legal transcription company Singapore prepared a readable transcript. Each part was separated correctly. It helped us check important points calmly. I am..."
Same Day Court Typing Help
"During a busy filing week, I requested urgent legal transcription Singapore service. They returned my recorded statement within hours. The text matched the audio properly. This quick turnaround reduced pressure..."
Organized Transcript for Arbitration
"Because arbitration sessions run long, I needed reliable court transcription in Singapore. They delivered a well arranged document. Speaker sections were separated clearly. Reviewing the case became easier for everyone..."
Confidential Legal Audio Converted Properly
"Sharing sensitive discussion audio was a concern for me. The Singapore legal transcription provider handled it privately. The written file looked complete and easy to read. I did not need..."
Precise Documentation for Hearing Review
"Our team needed written proof from a tribunal recording. Their legal typing service Singapore delivered a detailed transcript. Every exchange appeared correctly. It supported our preparation work without confusion."
Courtroom Audio Turned into Readable File
"Instead of struggling with replaying the recording, I used their legal transcription company in Singapore. The result came structured and tidy. It helped me highlight important sections easily. The process..."
Timely Transcript for Lawyer Reference
"Needing written content for lawyer review, I contacted this legal transcription Singapore team. They respected my deadline. The transcript arrived readable and well spaced. It made internal discussion much easier."
Trustworthy Handling of Recorded Evidence
"Providing recorded evidence requires careful typing. The Singapore legal transcription service delivered a solid document. Words matched the audio properly. It supported our legal process smoothly. I would recommend them..."
Other Services and Guides for Your Case
A recording rarely comes alone. We run the chats, documents and audio as one job, so every name and term matches across the bundle.
Helpful guides
Several Recordings? One Bundled Quote
Send them together for one bundled quote with an itemised breakdown.
Common Questions About Legal Transcription in Singapore
Short, direct answers to the questions lawyers and litigants ask us most.
FAQ Group
Will a Singapore court or tribunal accept your transcript?
The court or tribunal decides what weight to give any evidence, so no one can promise acceptance. What we give you is the route they ask for. Tribunals ask for a transcript and a certified English translation by a professional translator. For a court filing, the transcript and translation are verified by our translator's affidavit, sworn before a commissioner for oaths.
How much does legal transcription cost in Singapore?
A certified legal transcript starts from S$8 per audio minute. A recording in another language adds a per-word translation. A sworn affidavit for court adds from S$250. Written documents that go with it cost from S$40 a page. Send the file and you get a fixed, itemised price within an hour.
Do I need notarisation or SAL for my transcript?
Not for a Singapore court or tribunal. There, a certified transcript or a translator's affidavit sworn before a commissioner for oaths is the route. Notarisation is for use abroad: the affidavit is sworn before a Notary Public and then authenticated by SAL, which charges S$87.20. We arrange it and quote it on request.
My hearing is in a few days. Can you still help?
Often, yes. Short clips are usually ready in 1 to 2 working days, and a clip sent before 11am on a weekday can sometimes be done the same day. An affidavit then needs a commissioner appointment, usually a working day or more. Message us on WhatsApp with the length, language and hearing date today.
What do I get, and do you need the original recording?
Send the original file from the phone or device, not a forwarded copy, and keep the original yourself. You get a signed PDF of the transcript and translation, with a paper copy on request. Affidavit sets come on paper plus a PDF for eLitigation. Courier for a small fee, or collect from our office.
Can you transcribe my court hearing?
No. The courts make their own official transcripts through their vendor, and they will not certify an unofficial transcript as the official record. Ask for a certified transcript through eLitigation (or ICMS, iFAMS or the court's form). The court sets the fee per word. The State Courts and Family Justice Courts do not give out copies of hearing audio.
Can you transcribe and translate WhatsApp voice notes for court?
Yes. This is our most common legal job. We transcribe each voice note in the language spoken, with the sender, date and time code, then translate it into English line by line. Slang and rude words are kept, not softened. For a tribunal, it comes certified; for a court filing, with the translator's affidavit.
Can I use Google, ChatGPT or an AI app to transcribe it myself?
For your own understanding, yes. For filing, it is risky: AI tools mishear accents and mixed languages, and nobody can swear an affidavit for them. Tribunals ask for a certified translation by a professional translator. If you have already typed an English transcript, we can check it against the audio and certify it.
Do you sign an NDA with law firms and keep recordings confidential?
Yes. We sign an NDA on request before opening any file. Recordings are used only for your case, moved through secure links, never put into public AI tools, and deleted on request with written confirmation. Firms with regular work can get one team, one word list and monthly invoicing.
What if the other side says the transcript or translation is wrong?
Send us their objection or their own version. The translator who signed or swore the set reviews each disputed line against the audio and explains the choice in writing, or corrects a real error. We do not shade words to help either side, and that neutrality is what makes a transcript hold up.
Get Your Recording Ready for Court or Tribunal
Upload the recording, tell us the court or tribunal and your hearing date, and get a fixed, itemised price within an hour.