How should I organize the evidence I'm sending to the other party in my dispute?

When you send your evidence to the other person in your dispute, the goal is to make it easy for them — and later, the decision-maker — to find and understand each piece. A package that's well organized is taken more seriously than a stack of loose, unlabelled documents.

Here's what a good package looks like.

Start with a cover page or short letter. This says who you are, the dispute or file number, the date, and a one-line description of what's enclosed (for example, "Applicant's evidence — 12 documents"). It signals that this is a complete, deliberate package.

Include a table of contents. Once you have more than a few documents, an index is well worth doing, and some processes expect or require it. List each item in order, with a short plain description and the page number where it starts. For example:

• Tab 1 — Tenancy agreement signed February 1, 2024 (page 1)

• Tab 2 — Email from landlord about repairs, May 12, 2026 (page 4)

• Tab 3 — Photo of water damage, kitchen ceiling (page 6)

This lets the other party (and you) quickly confirm exactly what's in the package and refer to items by number later.

Organize the documents in a logical order. Most people use date order (oldest to newest) or group items by topic. Pick one approach and stick with it.

Number every page. Numbering the pages straight through the whole package means everyone can follow along and point to the same place. It's a good idea to number each page of your evidence package so that all participants can follow what is being presented. 

Label and describe each item. This matters most for photos, screenshots, and recordings, which don't explain themselves. Photographs should be numbered and include a brief description — for example, "Living room photo 1 – carpet stain."

Make sure everything is clear and legible. Decision-makers can refuse to consider evidence that isn't readable or organized. All evidence should be relevant, accurate, organized, clear, and legible.  

A few more practical points:

Send the same package you plan to rely on. The evidence you give the other party should match what you'll use later. You generally can't spring new evidence on the other side that you never shared with them — so giving it to them now, as part of this package, avoids problems later.

Keep an identical copy for yourself. Provide identical copies to each party, and keep one for your own records so everyone is working from the same pages and numbering. 

Keep proof of what you sent and when. Note the date you sent the package and how. Many processes require you to prove the other party received your evidence, so a registered mail receipt, a sent email, or a confirmation can matter.

Leave out anything privileged or irrelevant. You don't have to hand over private legal advice you got from a lawyer, and padding the package with documents that don't help your story can work against you.

Confirm the rules for your specific process. Each court and tribunal sets its own requirements for format, deadlines, and how evidence must be delivered. Check the rules for your court or tribunal, or get legal advice if you're unsure what to include.