This checklist is a practical aid for legal practitioners and professional organisations. Adapt it to the matter and the applicable instructions. It is not a completed instruction or a finding about any evidence.
Confirm the arrangements
- Confirm the matter reference, agreed scope, intended recipient and authorised sender.
- Use the matter-specific transfer link or other arrangement agreed directly with the laboratory.
- Agree formats, volume, restrictions and any special handling requirements before transfer.
- Do not upload evidence, passwords or confidential documents through the public website form.
Prepare an inventory
- List exhibits, filenames, report versions, acquisition types and known source relationships.
- Include acquisition logs, settings, errors and available integrity records relevant to the scope.
- Identify checksum algorithms and the exact files or images to which the values apply.
- Preserve native exports and associated files; do not substitute screenshots or converted files without agreement.
Complete and reconcile
- Record who supplied the material, the transfer date and any known limitations.
- Identify missing, withheld or inaccessible items and the reason, where known.
- Communicate access credentials separately through the agreed channel.
- Reconcile receipt and inventory with the laboratory; retain the original material and transfer record under the agreed arrangements.
Further guidance
Read How to instruct a digital forensic expert, Fees & engagement and the forensic questions hub. Contact the laboratory with a concise, non-sensitive enquiry.