Insights for litigation teams

Evidence & Exhibits

Authentication, Bates numbering, hash values, message exhibits and binders that hold up at hearing.

Evidence & ExhibitsAudio Recordings as Evidence: Foundation, Transcripts and ConsentAudio recording evidence for litigation teams: consent rules that vary by state, preserving the native file, foundation, transcripts and playing clips.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsAuthenticating Text Messages Under Rule 901: Foundation That Holds UpHow to authenticate text messages under Rule 901: proving accuracy and authorship, a sample foundation exam, pretrial tools, and the challenges to anticipate.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsBates Numbering Done Right: The Complete Guide for Law FirmsBates numbering for law firms: prefix and padding conventions, numbering across productions, natives and slipsheets, privilege gaps, and an SOP to adapt.9 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsThe Best Evidence Rule and Digital Copies: What Counts as an OriginalThe best evidence rule digital copies must satisfy: what counts as an original for ESI, when screenshots work, and what to do if originals are lost.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsChain of Custody for Digital Evidence in Civil and Family CasesA practical chain of custody for digital evidence in civil and family cases: collection, intake hashing, storage, handoffs, a log template and gaps.7 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsExhibit Lists Judges Can Actually Follow (Template Included)A practical exhibit list template for law firms: the columns that matter, neutral descriptions, numbering schemes, sample entries and live tracking in court.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsHash Values in Litigation: What a SHA-256 Fingerprint Really ProvesHash value evidence explained for litigators: what a SHA-256 fingerprint proves and what it can’t, how to compute one on any computer, and a log template.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsThe Hearing Exhibit Binder Checklist: Every Set, Tab and Final CheckAn exhibit binder checklist for litigation teams: which sets to build, what goes in each, tab and label conventions, a QC pass and a countdown schedule.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsHearsay and Text Messages: Party Admissions, Exceptions and ContextText messages hearsay analysis, message by message: party admissions, adoptive admissions, non-hearsay uses, Rule 803 exceptions and the rule of completeness.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsHow to Bates Stamp PDFs (and Avoid the Mistakes That Force a Redo)How to Bates stamp PDF files step by step: prepping the set, the settings that matter in Acrobat Pro or other tools, quality checks, and fixes for errors.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsExporting iMessages for Litigation: Every Option ComparedHow to export iMessages for litigation: screenshots, Mac printouts, backup-based tools, forensic extraction and carrier records compared, plus preservation.7 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsPreserving Photo Metadata (EXIF) for Litigation Before It DisappearsHow to preserve photo metadata evidence: what EXIF fields show, how texting and uploads strip them, collecting originals, and reading dates and time zones.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsPresenting Electronic Exhibits: A Courtroom and Remote Hearing PlaybookPresenting electronic exhibits in person or by video: courtroom tech checks, screen-sharing discipline, audio and video playback, a clean record, and backups.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsRedacting Exhibits Without Leaks: A Personal Identifier WorkflowRedacting exhibits the right way: what Rule 5.2 requires, identifiers hiding in messages and photos, true redaction vs. black boxes, logs and verification.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsScreenshot Evidence: The Admissibility Pitfalls and How to Fix ThemScreenshot evidence admissibility for litigators: the rules that apply, ten common pitfalls with fixes, client capture instructions, and when to export.7 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsSelf-Authenticating Electronic Records: How Rules 902(13) and 902(14) WorkHow an FRE 902(14) certification works, how it differs from 902(13), who can sign, the notice rule, a template outline, and what certification does not prove.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsCollecting Social Media Evidence That Holds UpSocial media evidence collection for law firms: what to capture, how to preserve posts and profiles, platform data downloads, ethics limits, authentication.9 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsText Message Exhibits: Formatting Best Practices for Hearings and TrialText message exhibit format best practices: choosing a layout, the header block, timestamps and time zones, attachments, omissions, redaction and numbering.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsTimeline Demonstratives That Persuade: Design, Sourcing and Rule 107How to build a timeline demonstrative exhibit: Rule 107 aids versus Rule 1006 summaries, sourcing every entry, design for readability, and common objections.8 min read

Evidence & ExhibitsWhatsApp Evidence in Litigation: How to Export, Review and Produce ChatsWhatsApp evidence in litigation: where chats live, how to preserve and export them, what the export shows and hides, review traps, and production options.7 min read