Once you've gathered your evidence, the next job is presenting it so a busy reader can follow it. That's what an exhibit book does: it organizes your documents into a labelled, indexed package. A clean exhibit book signals that you're prepared and reasonable — and makes your evidence far easier to use. This is general information, not legal advice.
What an exhibit is
An exhibit is simply a piece of evidence that's labelled and referred to in your materials — often a letter or number, like Exhibit A. Labelling your own evidence this way keeps you organized; the court or your lawyer may assign final numbering. Exhibits are commonly attached to an affidavit.
Group before you label
Don't label items in the order you happened to find them. First group them by issue or incident — all the documents about one missed exchange together, all the financial records together. Grouped evidence tells a story; scattered evidence is just noise.
Label and index
- Give each exhibit a clear label (Exhibit A, B, C…)
- Within a set, number the pieces (A-1, A-2, A-3…)
- Put an index of exhibits at the front, so the whole set is visible at a glance
- Make sure every exhibit you reference is actually included
Keep it clean and complete
Use the original, unaltered versions, present full conversations rather than snippets, and keep dates visible. A tidy, complete book builds trust; gaps and edits invite doubt. Follow any specific directions your court gives about format.
How SteadCase helps
SteadCase keeps every item ready to become an exhibit: log each one in the Evidence Tracker with its date, source, and the issue it relates to, and group as you go. On a paid plan, the Export Summary can assemble a screenshot exhibit packet automatically — grouped by incident, with an index — so the assembly is largely done for you.
This is general educational information for Ontario, not legal advice. Court rules and your situation matter — consider speaking with a lawyer, paralegal, or your local Family Law Information Centre.