Small-claims preparation · Timeline

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.

Updated 2026-09-057 minTextTrace

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01Bring in the source

02Review the record

03Choose the useful output

Build around events

AgreementWhat was offered, accepted, priced, or promised?

PerformanceWhat delivery, work, return, or appointment occurred?

ProblemWhen was delay, damage, non-payment, or disagreement raised?

ResponseWhat remedy, deadline, refusal, or follow-up appears?

Use dates shown in the source. If a date is not visible, do not add it as though it came from the message.

Keep facts and notes separate

The message record should preserve the selected conversation. Your case notes can explain why a passage matters, but do not silently rewrite uncertain OCR, remove context, or turn an interpretation into message text. Search for names, amounts, invoice numbers, addresses, and deadline phrases, then open every important hit against the retained source.

Check the recipient’s rules

Small-claims forms, filing rules, page limits, redaction requirements, and acceptable media differ by jurisdiction and can change. TextTrace does not give legal advice or guarantee admissibility. Ask the court clerk, legal clinic, or qualified attorney what format and supporting source they require before filing or serving anything.

Questions, answered precisely

Frequently asked questions

Does TextTrace create a legal exhibit?

It creates organized exports from selected material. Whether and how to label, file, authenticate, or use them is determined by the applicable rules and your legal adviser.

Should I include messages that hurt my position?

Do not make selective changes that distort the exchange. Ask qualified counsel what scope and disclosure obligations apply to your matter.