Evidence & Documentation: Articles & Guides

Evidence & DocumentationLooking for an App to Print Text Messages for Court? Check These 8 ThingsChoosing an app to print text messages for court? The eight features that matter, red flags to avoid, a free method that works, and how to test any tool.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Authenticate a Screenshot for Court: Social Media, Apps and MoreHow to authenticate a screenshot for court: what screenshot authentication means, how to capture posts and app messages so they hold up, and what to say.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationBates Numbering for Family Court: What It Is and How to Do It YourselfBates numbering for family court documents, explained: what the numbers mean, how to Bates number documents pro se, how to cite them, and mistakes to avoid.9 min read

Evidence & DocumentationChild Custody Evidence Checklist: What to Gather and Where to Find ItA free child custody evidence checklist PDF: each category of evidence to gather, where to get every item, how to keep it safe, and what to leave out.8 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Keep a Custody Log You’ll Actually Stick With (Free Template)How to keep a custody log: what to record, how to fill in each field, a filled-in example week, and a free co-parenting log template in PDF and Excel.9 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Keep a Custody Journal a Judge Can Actually UseWhat to write in a custody journal, what to leave out, and how to make every entry factual and credible, with a sample template and before-and-after rewrites.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationDeleted the Texts? What You Can Still Do Before Your Custody HearingDeleted text messages and court: where copies may still exist, how to recover them safely, what to do if the other parent deleted texts, and what to avoid.8 min read

Evidence & DocumentationDigital Evidence in Child Custody Cases: The Complete GuideDigital evidence in child custody cases: texts, email, photos, social media and call records, plus how to collect, preserve and present them in court.8 min read

Evidence & DocumentationMissed Visits: How to Document Them in a Custody Case Without Making It WorseHow to document missed visits in a custody case: a free visitation log, what to do at a no-show, sample messages, make-up time requests and what to avoid.8 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Prove Parental Alienation in Court (Carefully)How to prove parental alienation in court: document specific behaviors instead of labels, rule out other causes, protect your child and avoid backfire.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationThe Best Way to Present Email Evidence to a Judge in Family CourtThe best way to present email evidence to a judge: print complete threads with full addresses, number and index them, and walk the court through each one.8 min read

Evidence & DocumentationFamily Court Evidence Index Template: Free Download and How to Fill It InFree family court evidence index template (Word, Excel, PDF): what goes in each column, a filled-in example, and how it differs from an exhibit list.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Make an Exhibit List for Family Court (With a Template)How to make an exhibit list for family court: what goes in each column, how to describe exhibits neutrally, when to share it, and a simple template to copy.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Export Android Text Messages for Court (Samsung, Pixel and More)How to export Android text messages for court: saving texts to an XML backup, what RCS and MMS mean, Samsung and Pixel tips, and the checks to run first.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Export an Email Thread to PDF for Court (Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail)How to export an email thread to PDF for court from Gmail, Outlook or Apple Mail, keep headers and dates intact, and print emails for court a judge can read.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Export iMessages for Your Lawyer Without Paying Them to Sort ScreenshotsHow to export iMessages for a lawyer: what your attorney needs, how to export full iPhone threads, how to send them securely, and mistakes that waste fees.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Export and Print iPhone Text Messages for Court (Without Losing Dates or Context)How to export iPhone text messages for court and print them with the date and time: settings to check, hidden timestamps, export software and checks.11 min read

Evidence & DocumentationThousands of Texts? How to Group Text Messages by Issue for CourtHow to group text messages by issue for court: choose your issues, search and tag the thread, build an issue index, keep context, and skip the copy-paste.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Authenticate Text Messages for Court and Prove They’re Real Without a LawyerHow to authenticate text messages for court and prove they’re real when you represent yourself: what to say, what to bring, and a free declaration template.11 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Label Exhibits for Child Custody Court (With Free Cover Sheets)How to label exhibits for child custody court: numbering systems, where labels go, free exhibit cover sheets, multi-page and digital exhibits, and copy sets.8 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Organize Evidence for Family Court, Step by Step (Free Evidence Index)How to organize evidence for family court: a six-step system, a free evidence index template explained field by field, a filled-in example and a hearing kit.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Print Text Messages for Court or Export Them to PDF (The Hard Way and the Easy Way)How to print text messages for court or export them to PDF from an iPhone, Android or WhatsApp: screenshots, PDF settings, copies and a faster way.12 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Redact Text Messages for Court (Without Ruining the Evidence)How to redact text messages for court: what to black out, how to redact phone numbers in court documents so they stay hidden, and what never to remove.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Show Text Messages to a Judge (Without Handing Over Your Phone)How to show text messages to a judge: prepare copies, present texts in court step by step, what to say to lay the foundation, and how to share them on Zoom.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Organize Thousands of Screenshots for Court, Step by StepHow to organize 1000s of screenshots for court: get them off your phone safely, sort by the date things happened, cut duplicates, and index them by issue.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationMissed and Cut-Off Calls: How to Log Phone Calls for Family CourtLogging phone calls for family court: a free call log template, what to write in each field, how to back it up with call history, and mistakes to avoid.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Get Phone Records for Divorce or Custody Court, and What Call Logs ProveHow to pull phone records for divorce court: get your own carrier records, subpoena the other side’s, and use call logs as evidence of a pattern.12 min read

Evidence & DocumentationPhotos and Videos as Evidence in a Custody Case: What Helps, What BackfiresHow to use photos as evidence in a custody case: taking them well, keeping original files, what a picture can and can’t prove, and showing video in court.9 min read

Evidence & DocumentationYour Evidence Has an Expiration Date: How to Preserve Digital Evidence NowHow to preserve digital evidence for a custody case: what disappears first, how to capture texts, posts and video correctly, and how to keep originals safe.8 min read

Evidence & Documentation“That’s Fake”: How to Prove Digital Evidence Hasn’t Been AlteredHow to prove digital evidence hasn’t been altered: keep originals, record metadata and hash values, log every capture, and back up texts and photos for court.8 min read

Evidence & DocumentationSchool and Medical Records as Custody Evidence: How to Get Them and Use ThemHow to use school records in a custody case: which school and medical records matter, how parents request them, certified copies, and using them fairly.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationSHA-256 Hashes for Digital Evidence in Family Court, in Plain EnglishWhat a SHA-256 hash means for digital evidence in family court: what a hash value proves and doesn’t, how to check one yourself, and how to keep a hash log.8 min read

Evidence & DocumentationSocial Media in a Custody Case: Posts, Messenger Chats and What BackfiresHow social media evidence works in a custody case: capturing posts and Messenger chats properly, lines not to cross, and why your own accounts matter too.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationSoftware to Organize Custody Evidence: What Matters Before You PayWhat to look for in software to organize custody evidence, a free folder-and-spreadsheet system that really works, and what to ask before you trust a tool.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationText Message Authentication Declaration: Example and Free TemplateA text message authentication declaration example and free template: what each part says, how to fill it in, using it with your exhibit, and what to avoid.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Make a Text Message Log for Court That a Judge Can FollowHow to make a text message log for court: the columns to use, a copyable text message log template, spreadsheet steps, print settings and mistakes to avoid.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationAre Text Messages and Screenshots Admissible in Family Court? How to Use Them RightAre text messages admissible in family court? The questions judges ask about texts and screenshots, when screenshots aren’t enough, and how to prepare them.12 min read

Evidence & DocumentationAlways Late? How to Track Late Drop-Offs and Pickups With Your Co-ParentHow to track late drop-offs with a co-parent: a free exchange log, whose clock to trust, how to total minutes late, calm messages to send, and what not to do.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationWhat Evidence Matters Most in a Custody Case, and What Usually Doesn’tWhat evidence do I need for custody? The kinds of proof that tend to matter most, what adds little, and how to match evidence to each issue in your case.8 min read

Evidence & DocumentationHow to Present WhatsApp Messages as Evidence in a Custody CaseHow to present WhatsApp messages as evidence: export the chat, check dates and names, build a clean numbered exhibit, and explain it to the judge plainly.7 min read

Evidence & DocumentationWitness Statements and Affidavits in a Custody Case: What Makes Them CountHow to get a useful witness statement for custody: who to ask, what it should say, affidavit vs. declaration, sample wording and mistakes that weaken it.8 min read