Attorney Quick Start Guide

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Section 1 of 6 What is ExtractPhone

ExtractPhone is a browser-based forensic report generator built specifically for legal professionals. There is nothing to install, no data sent to a server, and no special technical knowledge required. Upload your evidence files, fill in case details, and download a professionally formatted PDF ready for court submission.

Browser-based forensic report generator — runs entirely in your web browser with no plugins or extensions needed.
No software to install — works in any modern browser including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari on Mac and Windows.
Data never leaves your computer — all file processing happens locally in-browser. Your client's data is never uploaded to any server.
Court-ready PDF output includes a chain of custody log, SHA-256 evidence hashing, examiner certification block, and proper legal formatting.
Used by family law attorneys, criminal defense counsel, civil litigators, employment attorneys, and HR compliance professionals across the country.

Because all processing is local, ExtractPhone is appropriate for use with attorney-client privileged material and protected health information. Always consult your bar association's technology guidelines for your jurisdiction.

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Section 2 of 6 Getting Your License

Choose the plan that matches your caseload. All plans include the full report generator — plans differ by monthly report volume, branding options, and priority support access.

Free Trial

$0

1 watermarked report. No payment required. Use code TRIAL-FREE.

Most Popular

Pro

$49_/mo

Up to 25 reports/month. Custom examiner branding. Email support.

Attorney

$99_/mo

Unlimited reports. Firm logo on PDFs. Priority phone support.

1

Visit the website

Open your browser and navigate to extractphone.com
2

Choose your plan

Click Pricing in the navigation. Select Free Trial, Pro ($49/mo), or Attorney ($99/mo) based on your expected monthly report volume.
3

Enter payment information

For paid plans, enter your credit card details in the secure checkout. Your card is processed by Stripe — ExtractPhone never stores payment data.
4

Receive your license key

Your license key is emailed instantly to the address you provided. Check your spam folder if it does not arrive within 2 minutes.
5

Activate at the report generator

Navigate to extractphone.com/report-generator and paste your license key into the activation field.
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Free trial users

Skip payment and use code TRIAL-FREE at the report generator. You will receive one watermarked report at no cost.

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Section 3 of 6 Getting Your Client's Data

ExtractPhone accepts data from three common sources. Choose the method that matches the data available in your case. All three methods produce files you can upload directly into the report generator.

Method A iPhone Backup via Finder (Mac) or iTunes (Windows)

1

Connect the iPhone to the computer using a USB cable. Unlock the phone and tap Trust This Computer if prompted.

2

On Mac (macOS Catalina or later): Open Finder, select the device in the left sidebar under Locations.

3

On Windows or older Mac: Open iTunes, click the device icon near the top-left.

4

Select Back up all of the data on your iPhone to this Mac/PC. Do not enable encryption unless you already know the backup password.

5

Click Back Up Now and wait for the backup to complete. This may take 10–30 minutes depending on data volume.

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Locate the backup folder at one of these default paths:

Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/ Windows: C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

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Upload the entire backup folder (or the specific device subfolder) into ExtractPhone's upload area.

Method B WhatsApp Chat Export

1

Open WhatsApp on the phone and navigate to the conversation you need to preserve.

2

Tap the contact or group name at the top of the chat to open the Info screen.

3

Scroll down and tap Export Chat.

4

Choose Attach Media to include images and video, or Without Media for text only. Including media is recommended for evidence preservation.

5

Share the exported .zip file to yourself via email or AirDrop, then save it to your computer.

6

Upload the .zip file directly into the ExtractPhone report generator — do not unzip it first.

Method C CSV Template (Manual Entry)

1

Download the template from extractphone.com/templates. Templates are available for SMS, call logs, and contact lists.

2

Open the CSV file in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers. Do not alter the column headers.

3

Enter or paste your data into the appropriate columns. Dates must be in YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS format.

4

Save the file as CSV (UTF-8 encoded) and upload it to the report generator.

Evidence Integrity Note: Before uploading any client data, document the original file hash. On Mac, open Terminal and run: shasum -a 256 filename. This pre-upload hash should match the hash ExtractPhone displays after processing and is essential for chain of custody documentation.

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Section 4 of 6 Generating Your Report

The report generator walks you through eight steps. Each step validates your input before allowing you to proceed, so you cannot accidentally submit an incomplete report. The entire process typically takes 5–15 minutes depending on data volume.

1

Enter license key

Paste your license key into the activation field at the top of the page at extractphone.com/report-generator. The key is validated instantly. If accepted, a green checkmark appears and you may proceed.
2

Fill in case information

Enter your case number, examiner name (your name or your forensic vendor's), agency or firm name, date of examination, and case classification (Confidential, Attorney-Client Privileged, etc.). This information appears on the report cover page and in the certification block.
3

Upload evidence files

Drag and drop your backup folder, WhatsApp export zip, or CSV files into the upload zone. Multiple files are accepted simultaneously. ExtractPhone automatically detects file types and assigns them to the correct data categories.
4

Review extracted data

After processing, a data preview displays all extracted records organized by category: SMS/MMS, calls, contacts, photos, and app data. Review each category and verify the record counts match your expectations before proceeding.
5

Flag key evidence items

Click the flag icon next to any message, call, or photo to mark it as key evidence. Flagged items appear in a dedicated Key Evidence Summary section at the front of the report, making it easy for judges and opposing counsel to locate the most relevant data.
6

Add attorney notes

Each flagged item supports an optional attorney note field. Use this to add context, cross-reference other exhibits, or highlight legal significance. Notes appear beneath each flagged item in the Key Evidence Summary.
7

Click Generate Report

After reviewing all data and adding notes, click the Generate Report button. ExtractPhone compiles the PDF in-browser, calculates all evidence hashes, and prepares the certification block. Generation typically takes 30–90 seconds.
8

Download PDF

Click Download PDF to save the report to your computer. The filename includes your case number and the generation timestamp for easy filing. The report is a flat, non-editable PDF suitable for court submission and electronic filing systems.

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Section 5 of 6 Understanding Your Report

Every ExtractPhone report follows a standardized structure modeled on accepted digital forensic reporting conventions. Each section serves a specific evidentiary purpose. Understanding what each section contains helps you locate data quickly and respond to opposing challenges.

Cover Page

Displays case number, examiner name and firm, date of examination, classification level (e.g., Attorney-Client Privileged), and the ExtractPhone version used. Serves as the formal title page for court filing.

Table of Contents

Auto-generated with accurate page numbers for every section and subsection. Facilitates navigation during depositions and hearings.

Executive Summary

A one-page overview of the evidence dataset: total record counts by type, earliest and latest dates in the data, top contacts by frequency, and a plain-language summary of what the data contains. Ideal for providing to clients or co-counsel.

Device Information

Phone make and model, operating system version, IMEI or serial number (when available), carrier, and last backup date. Establishes device identity for chain of custody purposes.

Chain of Custody

SHA-256 hash values for each uploaded evidence file, calculated before and after processing. Includes timestamp of examination, examiner certification, and hash verification status. This section is the foundation for admissibility arguments.

Key Evidence Summary

All items you flagged during Step 5, displayed in chronological order with your attorney notes. This section is designed to be detachable as a standalone exhibit summary.

SMS / Chat Messages

Full message threads rendered as chat bubbles, matching the visual appearance of the phone's native messaging app. Each message includes sender, timestamp, and delivery status. Supports SMS, iMessage, WhatsApp, and other platforms.

Call History

Complete call log with contact name (where available), phone number, call direction (inbound/outbound/missed), duration, and timestamp. Calls are color-coded by type for quick visual identification.

Photo Evidence

Thumbnail grid of all extracted photos with GPS coordinates (mapped to address where possible), EXIF metadata including capture date/time, camera settings, and device identifier. Photos flagged as key evidence appear at full size in the Key Evidence Summary.

Activity Timeline

A unified chronological event log combining messages, calls, and photos into a single timeline. Useful for establishing sequence of events and identifying gaps or patterns in communication.

Methodology

Describes the examination procedures used, file types accepted, data parsing approach, and the technical basis for evidence hashing. Includes an examiner certification block and a standard forensic disclaimer. This section directly addresses foundation challenges under FRE 901 and 902.

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Section 6 of 6 Frequently Asked Questions

QAre ExtractPhone reports admissible in court?

ExtractPhone reports are designed to meet the foundation requirements under Federal Rules of Evidence 901 (Authentication) and 902 (Self-Authentication), as well as equivalent state rules. The chain of custody section, SHA-256 evidence hashing, and examiner certification block are specifically structured to support admissibility arguments. However, admissibility is always a judicial determination — your report should be accompanied by a witness declaration or affidavit from the examining attorney or vendor. Courts in family law, criminal defense, and civil matters have accepted reports generated by ExtractPhone. Consult local rules and your jurisdiction's evidentiary standards.

QWhat if my client's phone is locked or disabled?

ExtractPhone does not extract data directly from locked or disabled devices — it processes backup files and exported data that you provide. If the device cannot be unlocked, you have several options: (1) check whether an existing iTunes or Finder backup exists on a computer the client previously used to sync; (2) request carrier records directly via subpoena for call logs and SMS metadata; (3) engage a licensed mobile forensic vendor who has specialized hardware tools capable of bypassing lock screens under lawful authorization. Once that vendor produces an extraction file, ExtractPhone can process many standard extraction formats into a court-formatted report.

QWhat file types does ExtractPhone support?

ExtractPhone currently supports iPhone backup folders produced by Finder and iTunes (both encrypted and unencrypted), WhatsApp chat export zip files (iOS and Android), CSV files using the ExtractPhone template format, and standard .vcf contact files. Support for Android ADB backups and Google Takeout exports is in active development. If you have a file type not listed here, contact support@extractphone.com — custom format support may be available for Attorney plan subscribers.

QIs my client's data private? Does it go to your servers?

No data is ever transmitted to ExtractPhone's servers. All processing — parsing, hashing, and PDF generation — happens entirely within your browser using local JavaScript. When you upload a file, it is read into browser memory only. The PDF is generated in-browser and downloaded directly to your machine. ExtractPhone has no access to and never receives any content from the files you process. This architecture makes ExtractPhone appropriate for use with attorney-client privileged material and data subject to HIPAA or other confidentiality requirements.

QHow long does it take to process and generate a report?

Processing time depends on the size of the evidence files. A typical iPhone backup of 5–10 GB containing one to three years of messages, calls, and photos processes in 2–5 minutes. A WhatsApp export for a single conversation processes in under 60 seconds. PDF generation after you have reviewed and flagged the data typically takes an additional 30–90 seconds. Devices with very large photo libraries (10,000+ photos) may take longer during the photo metadata extraction phase. All processing happens locally, so your internet connection speed does not affect performance.

QWhat types of cases is ExtractPhone best suited for?

ExtractPhone is used successfully across a wide range of practice areas. In family law, it documents communication patterns, location data, and contact frequency relevant to custody disputes, domestic violence petitions, and divorce proceedings. In criminal defense, it preserves alibi-supporting call and location records and captures exculpatory messages. In civil litigation, it documents harassment, breach of contract communications, and timeline of events. In employment and HR matters, it preserves workplace communications for discrimination, retaliation, and misconduct investigations. The report format is flexible enough to serve as a primary forensic exhibit or as supporting documentation alongside expert witness testimony.

Need help not covered here? Email support@extractphone.com or visit extractphone.com for live chat support (available Mon–Fri, 8am–6pm Pacific). Attorney plan subscribers receive priority phone support.

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