Evidence Handling & Documentation Services
Digital Evidence Intake Checklist for Attorneys
Preservation-first service overview and scope boundaries for legal and insurance-related matters.
Service Areas
Select a category below to learn more.
- Device Evidence Preservation — phones, laptops/desktops, external drives, and removable media acquisition and preservation performed within defined authorization and scope.
- Cloud & Account Evidence Preservation — defensible preservation approaches for email, cloud storage, and online account exports with integrity, traceability, and documentation.
- Forensically-Defensible Documentation — chain-of-custody records, acquisition logs, hash verification, and handling documentation supporting evidentiary reliability.
- Expert Advisory Services — consultation and reporting support; independent expert analysis available only when separately retained.
How engagements begin
- Email-first intake to establish a written record and accurate scoping
- Written scope & authorization before engagement commences
- Acquisition & preservation with documented handling
- Delivery with supporting documentation and verification outputs
Expert advisory note
Expert analysis available to support litigation strategy, report drafting, and clarity of technical evidence when separately engaged.
No legal services are provided.
Next steps
Start with Scope and Process, or contact us to begin intake.
Why Data365 Evidence
- Documented, repeatable workflows designed to be defensible and auditable.
- Chain of custody included with every engagement, with clear handoffs and handling records.
- Forensic imaging performed using documented, repeatable acquisition procedures with integrity verification documented, repeatable acquisition procedures with integrity verification.
- Written scope first — engagement commences only under written authorization and defined scope.
- Optional expert advisory available by separate written agreement when appropriate.
Service areas
Device Forensics
Phones, laptops/desktops, external drives, and removable media acquisition and preservation.
Cloud Evidence
Email, cloud storage, and online account exports with integrity and traceability.
Defensible Documentation
Chain of custody, acquisition logs, hash reports, and preservation declarations.
Free preparation resources
- Chain of custody fields reference (PDF)
- Sample documents (what deliverables look like)
Example use cases (anonymized)
- Phone preservation before reset: urgent acquisition to preserve messages, media, and app data prior to device replacement or wipe. Outcome: preservation completed before device replacement or wipe.
- Employee departure hold: laptop imaging and documentation during separation to preserve business records and activity artifacts. Outcome: documented acquisition and handling record packaged for downstream review.
- Cloud access risk: mailbox and cloud-drive export preserved before account access changes or retention policies purge data. Outcome: export preserved before access changes and retention policies could purge data.
Typical engagement timeline
Actual timing depends on scope, device condition, and authorization. This is a common outline.
- Day 0: Email intake preliminary scoping secure transfer options provided
- Day 1: Written scope & authorization finalized (engagement commences only after authorization)
- Day 1–2: Acquisition / preservation + hash verification + chain-of-custody updates
- Day 2–3: Documentation package compiled secure delivery and verification outputs
- As needed: Expert analysis and advisory support when separately engaged
What you receive
- Chain-of-custody record (PDF)
- Acquisition log and handling notes
- Hash verification record (where applicable)
- Storage/device metadata sheet (where applicable)
- Delivery manifest and verification outputs
FAQ
Do you provide legal advice?
No. Data365 Evidence provides technical evidence acquisition, preservation, and documentation services. We do not provide legal advice.
Do you serve clients outside Boston?
Yes. Boston-based with remote intake available. Services may be provided nationwide by appointment, depending on scope and logistics.
What does “chain of custody” mean in practice?
It is the contemporaneous record of how evidence is collected, transferred, stored, accessed, and verified. Clear documentation supports defensibility.
Do you guarantee recovery or specific outcomes?
No. Findings and outcomes depend on the condition of the source data and the matter’s scope. Engagement commences only after a written scope is defined.
Engagement boundary: Contacting Data365 Evidence does not create a client relationship or an obligation to act. Engagement begins only after written scope and authorization are confirmed.
Acknowledgment: I understand that contacting Data365 Evidence does not create a client relationship and that engagement begins only after written scope and authorization are confirmed.
Why Data365 Evidence
- Documented, repeatable forensic workflows
- Chain-of-custody included in every engagement
- Methods documented, repeatable acquisition procedures with integrity verification
- Clear written scope before engagement commences
- Optional expert advisory by separate engagement
Engagement Process
Email Intake Written Scope Forensic Imaging Documentation Secure Delivery Optional Expert Advisory
Example Use Cases
- Emergency phone preservation before device reset
- Cloud account export before access termination
- Laptop imaging during employee departure
Typical Engagement Timeline
- Day 0: Intake & written scope
- Day 1: Evidence acquisition
- Day 2: Documentation & verification
- Day 3: Secure delivery