Free client checklist

Give your attorney
the context, too.

A short guide to answering a request for records. Use it with Folio, email or your firm’s existing portal. Your attorney’s instructions come first.

Plain text you can edit or share. No account required.

1. Start with the actual request.

   Write down the topic, date range, requested materials and any date your attorney gave you. If the request is unclear, ask before gathering a large batch.

2. Give each item its context.

   For each note, include the event date, the time if known and a short description in your own words. Keep the date you wrote the note separate if it differs from the event date.

3. Keep the original beside your explanation.

   Identify the message, photo, receipt or other file that relates to the note. Keep the original file unchanged. Explain the relationship instead of expecting someone to infer it from a filename.

4. Separate observation from other information.

   Say what you personally observed, what another person told you and what a document records. If a date or detail is uncertain, label it as uncertain.

5. Name what is missing.

   List the requested items you could not find and the questions you still have. An incomplete record with a clear gap is easier to understand than an unexplained omission.

6. Use the sharing method you agreed on.

   Check the recipient and materials, then use your attorney’s preferred channel. Ask how they want to handle urgent issues and confirm what else they need.

This is an organization aid, not legal advice or a list of evidence required for your case. Ask your attorney what to collect, retain and share.