What evidence do I need for a legal case?
The useful evidence is the material that proves each important fact, answers the other side’s likely response and shows any loss or remedy claimed. More documents are not automatically better. Relevance, authenticity and chronology matter.
Start with the issues
Write down what happened, what the other party was required to do, what went wrong and what outcome you want. For each point, list the evidence that supports it and anything that may contradict it.
Common evidence types
- Contracts, terms, policies and formal notices.
- Emails, letters and complete message threads.
- Photographs, video and original digital files.
- Invoices, payslips, bank records and receipts.
- Medical or expert evidence where relevant.
- Names of witnesses and what they personally observed.
Preserve originals
Do not edit screenshots or discard metadata. Export complete conversations where possible. Keep a working copy separately and redact unrelated personal information before sharing documents.
Proving financial loss
Link every amount claimed to a document and calculation. Record steps taken to reduce continuing loss. Keep estimates separate from costs already incurred.
Identify gaps honestly
Missing documents, inconsistent dates and evidence held only by the other side should be identified early. A useful assessment considers weaknesses as well as supporting material.
Prepare your assessment
Create a short chronology and select only the most relevant documents. You can then prepare a personalised case preview or read our complete fictional examples.
General information for England and Wales. Not legal advice. Check current official guidance and urgent deadlines before acting.