Done-for-you WhatsApp evidence for family court
A WhatsApp chat that matters to your divorce or custody case? We certify it.
Export the conversation, send it to us, and we deliver a court-ready certified package: a readable, line-numbered transcript with an eIDAS qualified timestamp. One conversation, certified in 24 hours.
Infidelity, hidden income, parental alienation, coercive control? If a WhatsApp message is your proof, capture it now, before it is deleted, disappears, or gets dismissed as a fake screenshot.
A plain screenshot has no provable date and is easy to dismiss as edited or AI-generated. Your certified package carries an eIDAS qualified timestamp (presumption of accuracy under Article 41(2)), a chain of custody, and your preserved raw export, so it holds up in family court.
Not sure you can export? Email us first, we confirm you can export before you pay. If we cannot process your files, you get a credit.
We never see what we do not need. We work only from the file you send us, from a full export we transcribe only the one conversation you ask for, and after we hand over your package we delete all your data from our servers.
Delivered in 24 hours · eIDAS qualified timestamp included · Verifiable by anyone
D. Marshall
online
Tuesday
The bonus landed. I'm keeping it off the books so it stays out of the settlement.
9:14 PM
You can't hide that, the account still shows it.
9:15 PM
I moved it already. And you'll never get the kids full time.
9:17 PM
Illustrative example. We turn your raw WhatsApp export into a line-numbered transcript, so you or your lawyer can cite Line 114 and point to the exact message.
Every package can be verified by anyone, for free, in the open Trust Verifier.
Quick answer
Can WhatsApp messages be used as evidence in a divorce or custody case?
Yes. WhatsApp messages are routinely used in divorce and custody cases, but they have to be authenticated and preserved, not just screenshotted. Courts want a provable date, an unaltered full thread and integrity you can demonstrate, and a bare screenshot is easily challenged as edited or AI-generated. Export the chat, send it to ProofSnap, and within 24 hours we return a certified package: a readable, line-numbered transcript, SHA-256 hashes, chain of custody and an eIDAS qualified timestamp, with your raw export preserved untouched. One conversation is $59.99.
Whether a given message is admitted, and its weight, is decided by the court. ProofSnap is an evidence tool, not legal advice.
What WhatsApp proves in a divorce or custody case
Text messages are now the most common form of electronic evidence in divorce, and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers reports that the large majority of attorneys see smartphone evidence rising year on year. These are the patterns that keep coming up.
Infidelity
Admissions or arrangements that go to conduct and, in some jurisdictions, to the division of assets or spousal support.
Hidden income and assets
Undisclosed bonuses, transfers, large purchases or commitments relevant to a full and honest financial settlement.
Parental alienation
Negative messages about the other parent, coaching a child, or attempts to undermine the relationship, shown as a pattern over time.
Missed contact and breaches
A record of cancelled visits, late handovers and broken contact arrangements that a diary alone cannot prove.
Coercive and controlling behaviour
Threats, intimidation and controlling patterns over time. Coercive control is subtle, and a full timestamped thread shows the pattern a single message cannot.
Offensive messages around the children
Abusive or inappropriate communications sent in front of, or about, the children, relevant to welfare and parenting decisions.
New to gathering digital proof for a family matter? Our guide on how to capture social media evidence for divorce and custody covers the wider picture, and this page handles the WhatsApp part end to end.
Why a screenshot will not hold up in family court
You may already hold the decisive message. The problem is the form it is in. In 2026, the other side routinely argues a screenshot was edited or generated with a fake-chat tool. Certification answers all four weaknesses.
Under FRE 901 in the US you must show the item is what you claim it is, and courts usually prefer a complete message history over selected extracts. A screenshot, stripped of metadata, hash and provenance, rarely clears that bar on its own.
"It could have been edited or AI-generated"
A screenshot or copy-pasted export is trivial to alter, and fake-chat generators make the accusation easy. Without a cryptographic hash the burden falls on you to prove it is genuine.
No provable point in time
A file on your phone has no independent date. Certification anchors it with a Bitcoin OpenTimestamps proof and an eIDAS qualified timestamp that carries a legal presumption of accuracy in the EU.
Messages disappear during a separation
WhatsApp supports disappearing messages and delete-for-everyone, and an ex can delete their account. Export and certify now, while the conversation still exists on your device. If they deleted messages, a preserved thread can support an adverse inference.
No chain of custody
A raw export is missing the metadata, custodian declaration and integrity record that authentication needs. We preserve the raw export and add all of it, so an expert can verify it later.
From "I have the messages" to court-ready, in four steps
A done-for-you service. You export and send, we do the rest, you receive the sealed package within 24 hours to hand to your lawyer or file with the court.
Export the WhatsApp chat
On a computer, right-click the conversation and choose Export chat. On a phone, open the chat and use Export chat.
See exact steps ↓Upload on the secure page
A secure upload page opens right after payment. Upload your files and tell us which chat to certify plus your case reference.
We certify and deliver
A signed ZIP with your line-numbered transcript, preserved raw export, Bitcoin anchor and eIDAS timestamp, within 24 hours.
Step 1 in detail
How to export the WhatsApp chat
WhatsApp has a built-in per-chat export on your phone (iPhone and Android) and in the WhatsApp Desktop app (Mac and Windows). Send us the with-media export and we do the rest.
On a computer, in WhatsApp Desktop (Mac and Windows)
Export from WhatsApp Desktop
In the WhatsApp Desktop app on Mac or Windows, this is the quickest route:
- 1Right-click the conversation in your chat list (or click the chevron that appears on hover), then click Export chat.
- 2Choose Attach media (recommended) or Without media.
- 3The file is saved straight to your Downloads folder (a message confirms "Exported chat was saved to Downloads folder"). Send us that .zip.
You get the same _chat.txt plus media as the phone export. Desktop is easiest when the chat is already on your computer, or is too large to email from a phone.
On your phone (iPhone and Android)
Export from your phone
On iPhone: open the chat with that person or group, then:
- 1Tap the contact or group name at the top to open contact info.
- 2Scroll down and tap Export chat.
- 3Choose Attach media (recommended) or Without media, then Save to Files.
On Android: open the chat with that person or group, then:
- 1Tap More options (the three-dot menu at the top right).
- 2Tap More, then Export chat.
- 3Choose Include media (recommended) or Without media, then pick how to save it.
Export chat greyed out or missing?
Two things can hide the in-app Export chat. It is unavailable in Germany (and may be limited in a few other regions). It is also disabled when Advanced Chat Privacy is turned on for that chat, and in a group only an admin can switch it off. Turn Advanced Chat Privacy off (or ask the admin) and export again, use a device backup, or email us and we will guide you.
For the exact click-by-click with screenshots, see our guide to exporting and printing a WhatsApp chat for court, or WhatsApp's guide to exporting your chat history.
Send us everything (recommended)
The primary artifact is the _chat.txt export plus its media folder (the same export you would give your lawyer). For the strongest exhibit, if available also send the WhatsApp message database. We seal whatever you send, hashed and timestamped, never opened. If authenticity is ever disputed, a court-appointed technician can verify the transcript against the source. Decrypting the database needs its key, which the custodian provides separately.
Optional: the message database
Find your device below, then send us the folder it points to. When in doubt, send more rather than less.
Connect by USB and copy the whole WhatsApp folder:
Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/ (older devices /sdcard/WhatsApp/)
- •
Databases/: takemsgstore.db.crypt15and every datedmsgstore-...crypt15backup - •
Media/: the attachments
Your 64-digit key: WhatsApp › Settings › Chats › Chat backup › End-to-end encrypted backup.
The store lives inside a device backup, so make a full local backup:
- 1.Plug into a Mac (Finder) or Windows PC (Apple Devices / iTunes)
- 2.Tick Encrypt local backup, set a password, back up
- 3.Send the whole backup folder:
~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/(Mac)%APPDATA%\Apple\MobileSync\Backup\(Windows)
Encrypting the backup is what keeps the WhatsApp data complete.
Zip this whole folder as-is (needs Full Disk Access):
~/Library/Group Containers/group.net.whatsapp.WhatsApp.shared/
It keeps these together:
- •Messages:
ChatStorage.sqlitewith its-waland-shmsidecars (deleted and recent messages can live only in-wal) - •Attachments:
Media/andMessage/folders - •Who is who:
ContactsV2.sqliteandLID.sqlite - •Keys and identity:
Axolotl.sqliteandenc-key.dat
Too large to zip whole? Send at least these, each .sqlite with its -wal and -shm.
Zip the whole folder for whichever build you have:
- •Store / older app:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\5319275A.WhatsAppDesktop_cv1g1gvanyjgm\LocalState\
SQLite files with their-wal/-shmand cached media - •Newer WebView2 build (default since late 2025) and website installer:
%APPDATA%\WhatsApp\
includingIndexedDB\file__0.indexeddb.leveldb\(all.log/.ldbfiles), plusLocal Storage\andCache\
Not sure which you have? Zip both paths if present, or just tell us.
Your files stay encrypted. Keep your key or backup password yourself. We seal everything exactly as sent, hashed and timestamped, and never open it. You only hand the key to a court-appointed technician if authenticity is ever disputed. After we deliver your finished package, we delete all your data from our servers.
What you get back
A readable transcript of the whole conversation, with the images in place
A raw _chat.txt export is not something you hand a judge. We render your conversation into a clean, line-numbered Chat Conversation Transcript PDF: every message in original send order, the photos shown inline exactly where they were sent, and every other attachment referenced by file name and linked to the preserved file inside the package.
Every message in original send order, by timestamp, numbered in the left margin so you or your lawyer can cite "Line 114"
Photos and images rendered inline, in place, so the message and the picture are read together
Documents, videos and voice notes referenced by file name and linked to the preserved attachment in the ZIP
Cover sheet: parties, case reference, date range, message count, source file and source SHA-256
A faithful rendering: nothing added, altered, reordered or omitted, not a selective extract
Two layers of proof, and what each one means
Both layers are included in every certification. The qualified timestamp is what carries legal weight in the EU.
Bitcoin OpenTimestamps
The SHA-256 hash of your sealed manifest is anchored in the Bitcoin blockchain: a decentralised, independent, tamper-resistant proof that the export existed at a point in time. Subject to the court's free evaluation of evidence.
eIDAS qualified timestamp
Court-grade in the EU
Issued by Disig a.s., a Qualified Trust Service Provider on the EU Trusted List. Under eIDAS Article 41(2) it carries a presumption of accuracy of the date and integrity of the data: the other side has to rebut it.
What certification proves, and what it does not
What certification proves
- The export existed in that exact state no later than the timestamp.
- It has not been altered since it was sealed.
- The raw export is preserved for later expert examination.
- If you also send the sealed message database, an expert can examine the sender identifiers (the phone number and WhatsApp account each message is bound to), which materially strengthens attribution.
What it does not do
- On its own the transcript ties messages to an account, not conclusively to a person; an account is not proof that a specific hand typed the message.
- It is verifiable preservation, not a full forensic acquisition of the device.
- Admissibility and final authorship are decided by the court.
We make the content, order and timing impossible to dispute, so the fight is about what the messages mean, not whether you faked them. Send the message database too and the package also carries the sender identifiers that tie each message to a specific number and account, which pushes attribution as far as the evidence can go. The court still assigns final authorship, as it always does.
Built to support authentication under FRE 901 and self-authentication under FRE 902(14) in the US, and the eIDAS Article 41(2) presumption in the EU. In the UK, the Family Procedure Rules allow digital evidence that is authenticated and documented. ProofSnap is an evidence tool, not legal advice. For your specific case, consult a qualified family lawyer.
Pricing
Already have the WhatsApp conversation exported? We certify it as-is.
One certification covers one conversation, including its attachments and any supporting file.
WhatsApp Chat Certification
1 conversation · certified in 24 hours
- Your WhatsApp export, certified as-is
- Readable, line-numbered transcript rendered for your lawyer or the court
- eIDAS qualified timestamp + Bitcoin anchor
- Signed ZIP + certificate PDF + chain of custody
- Raw export preserved, verifiable by anyone for free
Right after payment, a secure upload page appears where you send us your files, so nothing sensitive has to go by email. If we cannot process your files, we will help you produce a usable export or issue a full credit toward a future certification. Not sure what you have? Ask us before you order.
Several conversations, or your lawyer needs them regularly?
Family law firms certifying chats often: email support@getproofsnap.com and we will arrange volume handling.
A different messenger or evidence type?
We also certify Signal chat exports and the full WhatsApp chat evidence service, plus documents and recordings.
vs. a screenshot, a DIY exporter or a forensic examiner
Court-grade certification for your family case, delivered in 24 hours, at a fraction of a forensic examiner's cost.
| Feature | ProofSnap | Screenshot | DIY exporter | Forensic examiner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readable, line-numbered transcript | No | Sometimes | ||
| SHA-256 hash + signed manifest | No | No | ||
| eIDAS qualified timestamp | No | No | Rarely | |
| Raw export preserved for re-derivation | No | No | ||
| Turnaround | 24 hours | Instant, no proof | Instant, no proof | Days to weeks |
| Typical price | $59.99 | Free | ~$30 | $375 and up |
Frequently asked questions
For a website, not a chat
Need to prove a web page, not a WhatsApp conversation?
This page is about WhatsApp chats. If your evidence is a website, a social post, a dating profile, a marketplace listing or an online review, ProofSnap is a Chrome extension that captures it as court-ready evidence yourself, in seconds. Same integrity you get here: a SHA-256 hash, an RSA-4096 signature, a Bitcoin blockchain timestamp and a Provenance Certificate, packaged into an 11 to 15 file evidence ZIP you can verify for free.
Standard SnapPack
10 captures · no expiration · one-time purchase
Pay-as-you-go, no subscription. All features: export, metadata, a short video proof, Provenance Certificate and blockchain timestamp.
eIDAS SnapPack
EU qualified timestamps (Disig a.s.)
$5.00 / stamp · also 1× $6.99 or 10× $49.99
Adds a qualified eIDAS timestamp per capture (Article 41), with a legal presumption of accuracy across the EU. Whitelabel branding on the evidence PDF.
Subscription
Essential · Professional · Enterprise
Annual plans save 20%
For regular use: monthly capture allowances, File Certification and eIDAS stamps on higher tiers. Includes a 7-day free trial (a credit card is required to start).
Prefer no subscription and no auto-renewal? The Standard SnapPack at $4.99 is a one-time purchase. SnapPacks are bought inside the extension after you install it. See the full ProofSnap pricing and features on getproofsnap.com.
Free to install · capture your first web evidence in under a minute.