FACTUAL NOTES · ORIGINAL CONTEXT

Incident log for harassment or disputed events

Keep what happened separate from what you think it means.

If you are recording unwanted contact, a difficult exchange or a disputed conversation, a consistent format makes your own notes easier to understand later. This is a record-organization template, not an assessment of whether conduct meets a legal definition.

A useful incident entry has six parts

1. When: date, time and whether the time is exact or estimated.
2. Where or how: in person, by message or another channel.
3. Direct observation: what you saw, heard or received. Mark exact quotations and paraphrases distinctly.
4. Relevant context: what came before and any response.
5. Original material: a reference to the complete message, photo or other file.
6. Follow-up: action you took and any unanswered question.

Fictional example: an exchange that did not happen

September 10, 2026 · 5:00 p.m. I arrived at the agreed public exchange location. At 5:10 p.m. I sent a message asking whether the exchange was still taking place. At 5:18 p.m. I received a reply asking to reschedule. I left at 5:30 p.m. The complete conversation is saved with this entry. A new time had not been agreed when I wrote this note at 6:00 p.m.

The example does not infer a motive or call the event a violation. Those conclusions require more information than a single note provides.

Keep source material alongside your summary

A screenshot or excerpt can omit important context. Retain the original material available to you and record where it came from. Do not alter an attachment to strengthen your account. Separate something you personally observed from something another person told you.

Download the free incident-log CSV

If abuse or monitoring is a concern

Your safety comes before a complete log. If someone can access your device or accounts, consider a safer device and speak with a domestic violence advocate about documentation. Evidence Locker is not an emergency or crisis-response service. Read our safety-focused documentation guide and the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s guidance.

Turn a sequence of events into a readable timeline

Evidence Locker can bring dated entries and supporting photos into a PDF report. Preview what is included before sharing. For disputed or false allegations, see organizing a factual response. An app does not independently verify a claim or determine whether a record will be accepted by a court.

Published by Evidence Locker · Updated September 23, 2026 · Record-organization guidance, not legal advice.