The Admissibility Checklist: Will Your Evidence Survive the Judge's Gavel?

You are sitting in the witness stand. You are telling the truth. You know you are telling the truth.

But in a US Court of Law, Truth and Evidence are two different things.

You can have the most incriminating text message in the world, but if it fails the strict tests of the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE), it might as well not exist. The judge will declare it "Inadmissible," strike it from the record, and tell the jury to disregard it.

Are you about to walk into court with evidence that is destined to fail?

Don't guess. Test your evidence right now against this 5-Point Admissibility Checklist.

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🛑 The "FRE" Compliance Test

Look at the evidence you prepared (your screenshots, your printouts, your backups). Ask yourself these five questions. Be honest.

1. The Test of Authenticity (FRE Rule 901)

**The Question:** Can you prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that this message actually came from the specific device and person you claim sent it?

**Why Screenshots Fail:** A contact name "Hubby" on a screenshot proves nothing. Anyone can fake a contact name.

**The ScanMyChat Fix:** We extract the **GUID (Globally Unique Identifier)** and sender ID hidden in the database, linking the message directly to a specific account/number.

2. The Test of Integrity (Chain of Custody)

**The Question:** Can you prove this data has not been altered, edited, or Photoshopped since the moment it was received?

**Why Screenshots Fail:** Images are easily edited. There is no way to verify a pixel hasn't been changed.

**The ScanMyChat Fix:** We generate a **SHA-256 Hash** for every batch of evidence. This is a digital wax seal; if one letter changes, the seal breaks.

3. The Test of Completeness (Rule 106)

**The Question:** Is the statement taken out of context? If you introduce part of a conversation, can the other side demand the *rest* of it be heard?

**Why Screenshots Fail:** They are fragmented. Missing the "before" and "after" allows the opposing lawyer to claim you are hiding the full story.

**The ScanMyChat Fix:** We produce continuous, chronological transcripts that satisfy the "Rule of Completeness" instantly.

4. The "Best Evidence" Rule (FRE Rule 1002)

**The Question:** Are you providing the original writing, recording, or photograph? If not, is the duplicate accurate?

**Why Screenshots Fail:** A printout of a screenshot is a copy of a copy of a digital display. It is low fidelity.

**The ScanMyChat Fix:** Our PDF reports act as a forensic duplicate of the original database, maintaining the highest fidelity possible.

5. Hearsay Exceptions (FRE Rule 803)

**The Question:** Is this an out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted? (Hearsay).

**The Fix:** While this is a legal argument for your lawyer, having **Metadata** allows your lawyer to argue that these records are "Records of Regularly Conducted Activity" or "Party-Opponent Admissions." Without metadata, these arguments fall apart.

""If your evidence fails even ONE of these points, you are gambling with your case. Don't bet your children's future on a gamble.""

How Did You Score?

If you are relying on iPhone screenshots, you likely failed 3 out of 5 tests (Authenticity, Integrity, Completeness).

That is a dangerous place to be.

Secure Your Score with Local-First Tech

You might think, "I'll just upload my screenshots to an online legal service." Be careful.

Validating your evidence shouldn't mean exposing it. If you break the chain of custody by uploading data to an unsecured third-party server, you might fail the Integrity test again.

ScanMyChat is Local-First.

We give you the tools to pass this checklist on your own computer.

You extract the data.

You generate the hash.

You create the report.

You maintain the chain of custody.

Admissibility Checklist Graphic

Turn "Hearsay" into "Hard Proof"

The Judge is waiting. The opposing counsel is ready to object.

Make sure that when you hand over Exhibit A, it stays in the record.

Pass the Test. Win the Case.

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Disclaimer: This checklist is for educational purposes based on general Federal Rules of Evidence concepts. Rules vary by state (e.g., California vs. New York). This is not a guarantee of admissibility; only a judge can make that ruling.

Admissibility Checklist: Will Your Evidence Survive Court?