Exhibits and documents — labelling evidence the right way

General information for people handling their own family law case in England & Wales — not legal advice. Rules and forms change; check current versions on GOV.UK and consider getting advice for your specific situation.

Everyone in a family case relies on documents — bank statements, messages, medical letters, school reports, police records. How you mark, number, and present those documents can be nearly as important as what they say. A judge who can find and follow your evidence quickly trusts it more; a muddle of unlabelled papers does the opposite. This guide explains how to exhibit documents correctly.

How to exhibit documents

An exhibit is simply a document you attach to a statement (usually a witness statement) so the court can see it alongside what you say. The mechanics matter:

• Label each exhibit. Give every document a label in the standard form `[your initials][number]`, e.g. "JD1, JD2, JD3". The label identifies both you and that particular document. Never reuse the same initials for two different people in the same case.
• Use continuous numbering. Keep one running sequence across the whole case — JD1, JD2, JD3 … — rather than restarting at 1 for every statement. This stops two documents being called "JD1" and lets the court and the other side know nothing is missing.
• Reference from your statement. Where you rely on a document, say so in the text and point at the exhibit: "I attach the text message at JD4." The statement should read clearly without the exhibits, and each exhibit should be tied to a specific point in the statement.
• Number pages too. Number each page (e.g. "JD4 p.2") so you can direct the reader precisely, and keep page order stable throughout.
• Mark the exhibit clearly. A sticky label or stamped header with the exhibit reference on the first page of each document, ideally with your name and the case name, so nothing is mistaken for something else.

The risk of mislabelling

Mislabelling is not a paperwork nitpick — it can damage your case:

• A document with the wrong label or reference may be cited incorrectly by you, contradicted by the other side, or treated as irrelevant because no one can confirm what it is.
• Duplicate or missing numbers create gaps that invite the question "where is JD4?" — and any suggestion you are hiding something, even an innocent omission, chips away at credibility.
• Mixing documents (attaching the wrong page, or two exhibits under one label) lets the other side argue you have not properly particularised your evidence and weakens the weight the court gives it.
• In the worst cases, an unlabelled or mislabelled document that is later disputed can make your whole bundle seem unreliable — the court may assume the mistake runs through everything.

Accuracy is cheap; the cost of a labelling error is suspicion you did not have to pay for.

Digital exhibits

Most exhibits are now produced digitally, often through the court's e-filing system (CE-File) rather than on paper:

• Scan clearly and completely — no dark blurs, no clipped edges, every page of a multi-page document included and in order.
• Name files consistently and descriptively — e.g. `JD4-texts-10-May.md` — using your exhibit reference so the printed version matches the electronic one. The file name should mirror the on-paper label.
• Keep the original and the certified copy. For documents you can't scan legibly, or where authenticity may be questioned (message screenshots, call logs), keep the device or original and be ready to produce it.
• Beware message screenshots. Screenshots can be edited, so a court may want the underlying phone records or a format that shows the full context — dates, sender, and the whole thread, not just a cropped highlight.
• Keep a running index. A simple list (exhibit number, description, date, page range, and where it is referenced in your statement) is invaluable for you and for the court as the bundle grows.

What the court needs on file

Whatever the format, the court needs:

• A complete set of everything you rely on, in the right order, labelled and numbered consistently with your statement.
• Readable, complete documents — no missing pages and no documents that cannot be opened or viewed.
• A clear link between each exhibit and the evidence it supports, so the judge or magistrates can follow your account.
• Compliance with the bundle rules (usually Family Procedure Rules Part 27, with a paginated, indexed court bundle where required), and the deadlines for filing and exchange.

If an exhibit cannot be verified as genuine, or is not presented in an orderly way, it is far less useful to you. Treat labelling as part of making your case: organised, careful, and easy to follow is exactly the impression you want the court to form.

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Last reviewed: August 2026. Check current Family Procedure Rules and bundle guidance on GOV.UK / justice.gov.uk before filing.