Attorney preparation · Handoff checklist
Give your attorney a map to the messages—not just a folder of screenshots.
One-page cover note
- Purpose: the issue this collection helps review, stated without conclusions.
- Sources: apps, devices, TXT/ZIP files, screenshots, recordings, or supported backups used.
- Scope: people and inclusive start/end dates.
- Method: how each source was exported or captured and whether OCR was used.
- Gaps: missing media, uncertain dates, unavailable messages, or failed imports.
- Outputs: filenames and whether each is a source copy or working copy.
Choose the recipient’s format
Stop conditions
Pause and ask for professional instructions before changing the device or source if authorship, deletion, alteration, acquisition method, or authenticity is disputed. Do not label a TextTrace export “forensic,” “certified,” “court-ready,” or “admissible.” A checksum or clean PDF can support file handling, but neither decides a legal question.
Questions, answered precisely
Frequently asked questions
Does my attorney need the original export too?
Ask them. A readable PDF may speed review, while the unchanged source can preserve context about how the working copy was created.
Does TextTrace make the messages admissible?
No. Admissibility and authentication depend on the jurisdiction, facts, source, and collection process. TextTrace is an organization and export tool.
Articles
Continue with a practical guide
Prepare messages for your attorney to review.
Start with the scope the reviewer needs. Keep the source, preserve surrounding context, check extracted wording, and hand over a readable file through an approved channel.
6 min · Updated 2026-09-05→Give a small-claims reviewer a timeline, not a screenshot pile.
Start with the disputed agreement, delivery, payment, or follow-up dates. Keep the original source, include surrounding context, and separate what the messages show from what you infer.
7 min · Updated 2026-09-05→
Turn co-parenting messages into a neutral review timeline.
Focus on verifiable exchanges about schedules, handoffs, school, health, expenses, and follow-up. Keep context and let your attorney decide what is relevant.
7 min · Updated 2026-09-05→