Updated 10/25/2025

How to Write a Legal Timeline (With Free PDF Tool)

A useful legal timeline is short, factual, and chronological. Start with your earliest documented interaction, then move forward one event at a time. Include only what’s relevant to your claim or defense.

Steps

1. List every dated event in a rough sheet
2. Add who was involved and what happened
3. Trim repetition; keep one clear sentence per event
4. Enter the final set into TimelineCourt
5. Export the PDF and attach it to your filing

Pro tip: Pair the timeline with a numbered exhibit binder using NMExt. Judges can flip between the timeline and the exhibits quickly.

Editing tips

Read each entry aloud. If it sounds like argument instead of fact, rewrite it to focus on observable details: dates, actions, and amounts. Use the people field to list everyone present, even if they are not parties to the case, so the court understands who witnessed each event. When you generate the PDF, the layout keeps columns aligned, making it easy to reference alongside transcripts or receipts.

Share it effectively

Save a digital copy plus a printed copy for the hearing. Email the PDF to opposing parties if required by local rules and include it in any pre-hearing submissions. Because TimelineCourt runs locally, you can revise and regenerate the file without uploading sensitive documents.

Not legal advice. Follow your local court’s formatting rules.