Transcript Preparation, Formatting, and Certification
Structure of an Illinois transcript
A certified transcript opens with a title page carrying the court, county, case caption, case number, judge, and appearances of counsel; an index follows, then the body, then the reporter's certificate and, where practice requires it, a certificate of transcript. Body pages are paginated and line-numbered (commonly 25 numbered lines), and each page keeps its full line count so any page-and-line citation stays stable across copies.
Certification language
The certificate is a sworn statement that you reported the proceedings and that the transcript is true and correct. It identifies you by name and CSR number and is signed only after proofreading of names, dates, and exhibit numbers is complete. If an error surfaces after certification, correct it by errata sheet or a separately certified corrected page, never by silent alteration of a certified page.
Worked example
Counsel calls: "You left out my objection at page 47." Reasoning: check the original notes and any backup recording. If the objection was spoken, add it by certified errata sheet and note the change; if it was made at a sidebar you were directed not to report, state that in a parenthetical. Do not revise and reissue the page without notice to all parties, because the certificate speaks to the document as served.
Traps
Certifying before proofreading; omitting the appearances page; inconsistent line counts that break page-line citations; forgetting the exhibit list; leaving the court's certificate off where local practice requires it.