Documents and recordings

Requesting audio recordings

Most criminal, civil, family law, family violence and victims of crime matters held in open court are recorded. Audio recordings are available for 12 months from the date of the hearing.

Only parties to the proceedings are permitted to obtain a copy of the recording.They include the

• accused person
• offender
• informant 
• plaintiff
• defendant
• applicant
• affected person/affected family member/protected person
• respondent
• legal representative of any of the above

To obtain an audio recording, a request for copy of audio recording form must be completed and forwarded to the Magistrates’ Court where the proceeding was heard.

A fee of $55 – per audio recording – must also be paid. Audio recordings will not be provided unless the court has received payment. Payment can be made in person to the relevant Magistrates’ Court via money order or cash. Audio recordings are generally supplied within 14 days of the request.

If any other person, other than those listed above, want a copy of an audio recording, they must submit a request to the Chief Magistrate. 

Requests should be sent to:

Manager, Judicial Support Services 
Melbourne Magistrates’ Court
GPO Box 882
MELBOURNE VIC 3001

Email: judicialsupport@magistratescourt.vic.gov.au

Requesting transcripts

Only committal proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court are transcribed. Any enquiry for a transcript in these matters must be referred to the Victorian Government Reporting Service.

See the Court Services website for more information.

Requesting court documents

You can apply on the day of a hearing to view court documents by completing a request by non-party for inspection of court documents form. 

Court documents include, but are not limited to:

• charge and summons
• the prosecution summary
• a hand-up brief
• photos
• CCTV footage
• police statements. 

The presiding judicial officer will decide if court documents will be released for inspection or copies provided. Photocopied documents are charged at 60c per page. The release of documents from the court file is always at the discretion of the presiding judicial officer.

If a request by non-party for inspection of court documents form is not lodged during the court hearing, another hearing will need to be set to hear the application. Parties involved in the matter must have the application served on them.

This allows them to attend the hearing of the application. A registrar will send a copy of the application to the accused on behalf of the applicant as the address of an accused cannot be released without an order of the court.

Searching the court register

The court register – a database containing information about charges, penalties and final orders – can be searched at any Magistrates’ Court venue. Section 18 of the Magistrates’ Court Act 1989 outlines what information can be accessed from the register. Only matters that have concluded can be searched.

It costs $24.70 to access the register. Notes can be taken from the information sighted.  If a printed copy is required, a certified extract needs to be purchased and the cost is $47.70 per extract. Each extract contains only one charge.

Payment is made in person at the relevant Magistrates’ Court. 

Example

John Smith is seeking background information about a person who has appeared in court.

Mr Smith goes to his nearest Magistrates’ Court and pays $24.70 to search for the person’s name. The search reveals three previous outcomes. John decides he’d like a copy of each of the outcomes, requiring three certified extracts.

The cost of accessing the court register and printing the three extracts is $167.80 – $24.70 for the search fee and $143.10 for the three extracts.

Certifying documents

Documents may need to be witnessed by an authorised person before they can be accepted by a range of organisations. They are witnessed to confirm the accuracy of information and minimise the risk of people fraudulently submitting documents.

See the witnessing documents page for more information. 

Audio visual links

The video link facility is a tool utilised by the Magistrates Court to enable court users to communicate more efficiently. To make arrangements for a video link, you need to contact the relevant Magistrates’ Court.

See the audio visual links page for more information.