Preparing WhatsApp messages as evidence
Updated 16 October 2026
Lawyers and courts generally want messages that are complete, in order and traceable to the original. This guide covers the practical steps. It is not legal advice; rules differ by country and court.
Why screenshots are often not enough
Screenshots show a few messages without context, can be cropped and are hard to read in order. They are fine for a quick look, but a dispute usually needs the whole relevant conversation with exact dates and times.
A practical workflow
This is the workflow many people follow before talking to their lawyer.
- 1Export the chat from WhatsApp on the phone that holds it, with media if photos or voice notes matter.
- 2Keep that original export file safe and unchanged, and keep the phone.
- 3Make a readable transcript: every message with sender, date and time, in order, with page numbers.
- 4Redact only what is truly private and irrelevant, and keep the position of redacted messages visible.
- 5Record the SHA-256 hash of the original export so anyone can check the transcript came from it.
- 6Ask your lawyer how your court wants it filed, labelled and served.
What makes a transcript easier to rely on
Completeness: the full relevant period, not selected messages.
Traceability: the source file name, its size and its SHA-256 hash written in the document.
Navigation: page numbers and Bates numbers so everyone can point to the same message.
Honesty about edits: redactions shown as black bars in place, not removed lines.
How chatview helps
The Evidence Pack builds that transcript in your browser: exhibit label, page and Bates numbers, inline photos, redactions and a closing integrity statement with the SHA-256 of your export. It also gives you an Excel and CSV copy. Your chat is never uploaded.
Questions
Will the court accept my PDF?
That is decided by the court and depends on where you are. A complete, traceable transcript is what lawyers usually ask for, but always check with your lawyer.
Can I prove the messages were not edited?
A transcript alone cannot prove authorship. Keeping the original export and the phone, and recording the export's SHA-256 hash, lets others check that the transcript matches the file. Your lawyer can advise on forensic extraction if authenticity is disputed.