Is a TextPort PDF accepted in court?

Rules differ by court. Most accept printouts of text messages when you can show they are true and complete. Keep the original chat and be ready to show it. When in doubt, ask your lawyer.

Should I include photos?

Yes, if they matter to the case. Use Import from Messages or Import from WhatsApp so photos come along. Screenshot imports do not include photos.

Can I export only part of the chat?

Yes. Use the date filter in the PDF preview. But the other side may ask for the full chat, so keep it.

What about a group chat?

Same steps. The PDF shows the sender name on every message. Add each person's phone number.

How to prepare text messages for court

You will have a clean PDF of the chat that shows who said what, and when, with phone numbers.

iPhone and Mac 8 steps · Updated Sep 20, 2026

What you need

✓TextPort on your iPhone or Mac
✓The chat, still on your phone

Courts want three things from a text message record: who said it, when, and that nothing was changed. This recipe gives you all three.

Steps

1

Import the whole chat

Do not skip parts. Courts want context. On iPhone, use Import from Messages (2) for iMessage and SMS. Use Import from WhatsApp for WhatsApp. Use Scroll Capture (1) for other apps.
2

Check the names

Open the chat. Tap the name at the top. Check that each person shows a real name, and that Me is next to your name. Chats from Messages and WhatsApp use the names from your phone.
3

Check dates and times

Scroll the chat. Every message should show a date and time. Chats from Messages and WhatsApp are exact copies. For a screenshot chat, long press a message to fix a wrong time.
4

Tap Export, then PDF

Tap Export at the bottom. Tap PDF.
5

Add phone numbers

In the preview, tap Add phone numbers to this PDF. Type each person's number. Courts use these to tie a name to a phone.
6

Filter by date if asked

If your lawyer asks for a date range, tap the filter icon and set the dates. Otherwise keep the whole chat.
7

Save the PDF

Tap the Share button. Tap Files (3). Save it to iCloud Drive or another safe place. Then send a copy to your lawyer with Share (1).
8

Keep the original

Do not delete the chat from your phone. The PDF is a copy. The court may ask to see the original on your phone.

Done

You have a PDF of the chat, with names, phone numbers, dates, and times on every page. Your original chat is safe.

Tips

Do not edit what people said. Only fix names, dates, and times. Changing words can make the record useless in court.
Print two copies. One for the court, one for you.
Some courts want a sworn statement that the PDF is true. Ask your lawyer or the court clerk.
On Mac, the same recipe works: pick the chat, press Command-E, choose PDF.

Questions

: Rules differ by court. Most accept printouts of text messages when you can show they are true and complete. Keep the original chat and be ready to show it. When in doubt, ask your lawyer.
: Yes, if they matter to the case. Use Import from Messages or Import from WhatsApp so photos come along. Screenshot imports do not include photos.
: Yes. Use the date filter in the PDF preview. But the other side may ask for the full chat, so keep it.
: Same steps. The PDF shows the sender name on every message. Add each person's phone number.