To document evidence for a restraining order, photograph every incident, threatening message, unwanted appearance, and any property damage with the date and location visible if possible. Your phone records the capture time, location and device details. When you certify a snap, DigiCert timestamps its digital fingerprint. Anyone can check the certified record at verify.getsnapproof.com to see whether the file matches its fingerprint.
Courts look for a pattern. Here's how to record it.
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Documented pattern of incidents
What Courts Need to Grant a Restraining Order
Judges don't grant restraining orders based on a single incident or a feeling. They need evidence showing a pattern of behavior that makes you fear for your safety. The stronger and more organized your documentation, the easier it is for your attorney to review what happened. If abuse is involved, see our guide on domestic violence evidence.
What to Document
✓Threatening messages: texts, emails, voicemails, social media messages, notes left on your car or door
✓Unwanted contact: showing up at your home, workplace, school, or places you frequent
✓Following or surveillance: seeing them in places they have no reason to be
✓Property damage: anything they've broken, vandalized, or tampered with
✓Witnesses: names and contact info of anyone who saw incidents
✓Physical evidence: injuries, damaged locks, items left at your door
✓Timeline: every incident with exact dates, times, and locations
How to Build a Pattern
One incident can be dismissed. Ten dated incidents over three weeks show a clear pattern. For every incident, capture photos or video in the moment, certified with an independent timestamp, with the location recorded by your phone. Keep a written log noting what happened, when, and how it made you feel. Save all digital communication. Screenshot everything and keep the originals.
Mar 1📱 Threatening texts
Mar 4🚗 Showed up at work
Mar 8📸 Property damage
Mar 12📱 Voicemail threats
Mar 15👁️ Following to store
Multiple dated incidents show a pattern
Safety First
Your physical safety comes before documentation. Never put yourself in danger to capture evidence. If you're in immediate danger, call 911 first. Document when it's safe to do so. Use an evidence app on your phone so you're always ready without needing to plan.
Common Mistakes
⚠Filing too early with weak evidence: one incident rarely gets a restraining order granted
⚠Not including dates and times: "he keeps showing up" is weaker than 12 specific dated incidents
⚠Relying on memory instead of documentation: write it down and photograph everything as it happens
⚠Sharing your evidence strategy with the person: keep your documentation private
⚠Not backing up your evidence: phone theft or damage could erase everything
What Your Attorney Needs
A chronological evidence package: every incident documented with independent timestamps, location recorded by your phone, photos or screenshots, and your written account. Organized by date in a format your attorney can review.
FAQ
There's no minimum, but patterns are stronger. Courts want to see repeated behavior. Document every single incident, no matter how small.
Often, yes. Take screenshots promptly and keep the original messages. SnapProof certifies photos and videos taken with its camera, not imported screenshots. You can photograph a screen with SnapProof, but that certifies the new photo, not the original message.
Record each one. The location your phone records with each snap shows where you were when you documented it, which can help show a pattern across places.
