Pick your situation and get a plain-English checklist of the documents, photos, messages, and records worth collecting now, while they're still easy to find. Strong evidence is what turns a 'he said, she said' into something you can actually explain to a lawyer, an insurer, or a judge.
Most everyday disputes come down to who can prove what. A dated photo, a saved text message, a signed contract, or a paper trail of payments can be the difference between a claim that goes nowhere and one that resolves in your favor. Courts, insurers, and even the other side's lawyer take a documented account far more seriously than memory alone.
Evidence has a habit of vanishing: security footage is overwritten, websites change, people delete texts, and memories fade. The best time to collect is right now, as close to the event as possible. This checklist walks you through the specific items that matter for your situation so nothing important slips away before you decide what to do next.
Disclaimer: NotALawyer.com provides general legal information, not legal advice, and is not a law firm. Using a tool does not create an attorney–client relationship. Laws change and vary by situation — verify anything important with the official source or a licensed attorney in your state.