Evidence Intake: Photos, Texts, Email

When capturing evidence, timing and completeness are critical:

Text Messages: Screenshot the ENTIRE conversation thread including timestamps and phone numbers. Capture multiple screens if needed to show context. Never crop or edit. Back up to cloud storage immediately.

Emails: Save as PDF with full headers visible (sender, recipient, date, subject). Download attachments separately. Print a backup copy and note any replies or threads.

Photos: Take multiple shots from different angles including context (room, building). Don't alter, filter, or crop original files. Note date/time/location in metadata and store originals separately from any edited versions.

• Use three storage locations: device, cloud, external drive
• Don't delete originals, even if you have copies
• Create dated folders using YYYY-MM-DD format
• Name files descriptively: `2026-01-15_text_custody_exchange.png`
• Keep access logs if possible

Create a Master Index: Use a spreadsheet with columns for date of incident, type of evidence (text/email/photo), file name, brief description, relevance to case (custody/support/contempt), and storage location.

Use Consistent Naming: Follow the format `YYYY-MM-DD_type_topic_sequence.ext`. Examples:

• `2026-01-15_text_missed_pickup_01.png`
• `2026-02-03_email_threat_financial_01.pdf`
• `2026-03-10_photo_property_damage_01.jpg`

Chronological Timeline: Create a simple timeline document showing date, what happened, evidence file names, and any witnesses.

Courts won't accept evidence if you can't prove it's authentic. Be ready to testify about your evidence:

For Text Messages: State this is your phone number, this is the other party's number, you took these screenshots on a specific date, and you haven't altered the images.

For Emails: Print with full headers, verify sender domain matches known email, and note if you replied (shows authenticity).

For Photos: Testify you took the photo on a specific date, identify the location/object/person, state it accurately represents what you saw, and confirm you haven't edited or altered it.

• Screenshots with battery/time cropped out (looks suspicious)
• Edited photos without disclosure
• Missing context (one text without conversation)
• Unclear dates or sources
• No backup copies

• Print all key evidence with exhibit labels
• Bring digital copies on USB drive
• Have your master index ready
• Know your authentication testimony for each piece
• Organize in chronological order