Exporting and printing

How to organize screenshots of text messages for court

Last reviewed 2026-10-17 · 4 official sources cited below

If screenshots are all you have, or all you need, a bit of organization makes a big difference.

1. Capture them properly

• Include the contact name or number at the top of the first screenshot of each conversation.
• Make sure dates are visible. On iPhone you can swipe left on the thread to reveal exact times; take screenshots in that state if times matter. Apple’s screenshot steps are on Apple Support.
• Overlap consecutive screenshots by a message or two so continuity is obvious.
• Don’t crop, draw on or edit the originals. Make annotated copies separately if your lawyer wants highlights.

2. Keep the originals untouched

Copy the original image files to a computer in a dated folder. Screenshots carry the capture date in their file metadata. Editing or re-saving them can change that.

3. Put them in order and number them

• Sort chronologically, oldest first. England and Wales’ Practice Direction 32 asks for exhibited letters to be arranged “in chronological order with the earliest at the top”. It’s a sensible default anywhere.
• Number every page. PD 32 says multi-document exhibits should have pages “numbered consecutively at bottom centre” (para 15.1). California’s Rules of Court require papers to be “consecutively paginated” starting with the first page (rule 3.1110(c)).
• Add an index or cover page listing what the exhibit contains (see exhibit labels and page numbers).

4. Group by conversation

One exhibit per conversation (or per topic) is easier to follow than one giant stack. Label them Exhibit A, B, C… or follow your court’s numbering system.

5. Bring copies

California’s self-help guide for small claims recommends the original for yourself, “a copy for the judge, and a copy for the other side”. Organize the papers so you can find any page quickly when the judge asks.

When to stop screenshotting

If the conversation runs to more than a few dozen screenshots, or the timing of messages matters, export the chat instead and make a transcript. It’s faster and easier to check (WhatsApp, Android SMS, iPhone).

Sources

1. Apple Support — Take a screenshot on your iPhone
2. Civil Procedure Rules, Practice Direction 32 — Evidence (exhibits, paras 11–15) (Ministry of Justice)
3. California Rules of Court, rule 3.1110 — General format (Judicial Branch of California)
4. California Courts Self-Help Guide — Small claims: prepare for your trial

Sources were opened and checked on 2026-10-17. Laws and rules change; always read the current version.