Why it’s Important to have the Right Documents for Your Court Date

Documentation is often the crux of your court case. Without the appropriate documentation, the courts may not be able to adequately determine whether you are making valid points. You want to be as prepared as possible to give yourself every chance to win. Here’s how you can make sure that you have everything you need.

Identifying the Relevant Documents

Any time you make a claim in court, you should be prepared to prove that claim. Though your testimony is evidence, it’s not very firm evidence: you can end up in a “he said she said” situation without documentation. Documentation makes your claim more solid.

Examples of documentation include:

• Photographs. If you’re trying to show that damage did or didn’t occur, for instance, you might need photographs. If you’re trying to prove that you were in a location, you might need photographs in addition to the file meta data, which will show when the photograph was taken.
• Contracts and letter. Written documents, especially signed documents, are especially important when you’re going to court. These documents show what you and the other party agreed to.
• Receipts or bills. If you’re trying to prove that something was paid for at a certain time, a receipt or bill can help. As an example, you might be showing that you were in another state entirely, by showing a receipt for your purchases.

When you think about the evidence that you’re providing and the arguments you have, consider what you can use to prove these facts.

The Challenges of Digital Data

Today, a great deal of evidence can occur digitally. Consider a situation in which you have text message evidence. How do you present evidence to the court? One of the ways you can do this is by requesting text messages from your cellphone carrier provider. This shows the messages were truly sent. You can also take screenshots, though you will need to authenticate them.

Things like digital photographs should be printed to be shown to the court, with additional files available upon request. Social media posts should also be printed, with the URLs visible so they can be double-checked.

Providing the Documentation

Documents should be printed or copied clearly. You should provide at least three copies: one for yourself, for the courts, and for the other party. Make sure to review the documents ahead of time to make sure they are legible. If you have color documents, like photos, provide color copies: the colors could make it easier to see what is going on.

Winning your court date will require that you arrive to court on time and prepared. Documentation is only one part of this. At Free at Last Bail Bonds, we are fully committed to reuniting families. If you or a loved one needs our services, we are here for you 24 hours a day at 470-410-3409.