What should go in an evidence log?

Every document related to the dispute: contracts, emails, letters, texts, invoices, payment records and photos, each with an ID, date, description, location and the fact it shows.

Is an evidence log the same as an exhibit list?

No. An evidence log is your own organizing tool. An exhibit list is a court document your lawyer prepares for a hearing or trial, usually drawing on your log.

Free templates

Evidence Log Template for Your Lawsuit

An evidence log is a list of every document in your case: emails, contracts, invoices, texts, photos. Each one gets a permanent ID, its date, what it is, where it's stored, and the fact it proves.

It sounds simple, and it is. It's also one of the most valuable things you can hand your lawyer, because it turns "I think there was an email about that" into "E-047, March 14, from their account manager." Every document your lawyer doesn't have to hunt for is an hour you don't pay for.

Free download: Evidence log (CSV for Excel or Google Sheets)

When you need it

As soon as a dispute looks serious, before documents get lost or deleted.
Before your first meeting with a lawyer, or when switching lawyers.
Before discovery, when you'll need to know exactly what you have.

The columns

ID: E-001, E-002 and so on, in the order you log them. Never reuse a number.
Date: The date of the document itself, not the date you found it.
Type: Email, contract, invoice, text, photo, letter, filing or other.
Description: From whom, to whom, and what it is, in one line.
Where it lives: The file path or link in your case folder.
Original location: Where the original stays (mailbox, phone, filing cabinet). Don't move originals.
Shows: The fact this document proves, in one sentence.
Sent to counsel: The date you sent it to your lawyer, so nothing is sent twice or missed.

Example (fictional)

ID	Date	Type	Description	Shows
E-001	2026-02-03	contract	Supply agreement, signed by both parties	Delivery of 500 units due by May 30
E-002	2026-05-14	email	Supplier account manager to owner re delay	Supplier knew of the delay by May 14
E-003	2026-06-03	invoice	Invoice 1187 for 400 units	Only 400 of 500 units were delivered

Build it faster with Claude or ChatGPT

Ask your lawyer before pasting case documents into any AI tool, and check every row against the source. How to use legal AI safely.

I'm organizing records for my own lawyer. For each document below, write one evidence-log row: ID (continue from E-[next number]) | Date of the document | Type | From / to / what it is | The fact it shows. Use only what the document says. If something is unclear, write "unclear". Do not give legal advice.

[paste documents or their text]

Tips

Add the ID to the front of each file name (E-014 2026-03-14 Email re delay.pdf) so files and log always match.
Log the documents that hurt you too. Your lawyer will find them anyway, and finding them early is cheaper.
Don't edit, rename inside or delete originals. Copy them into your case folder.
Ask your lawyer before pasting documents into any AI tool; see our guide to using legal AI safely.

Frequently asked questions

What should go in an evidence log?: Every document related to the dispute: contracts, emails, letters, texts, invoices, payment records and photos, each with an ID, date, description, location and the fact it shows.
Is an evidence log the same as an exhibit list?: No. An evidence log is your own organizing tool. An exhibit list is a court document your lawyer prepares for a hearing or trial, usually drawing on your log.

An organizing tool, not legal advice. Legal HQ is not a law firm. Example rows are fictional. Ask a lawyer licensed where you are about your situation and any deadlines.