The sample PDF, page by page
The sample PDF is a five-page export of a fabricated co-parenting conversation, in the same format every real export uses: a chain-of-custody cover page, a declaration of authenticity, then the transcript. Open it alongside this page. Here's what each part contains and what to check before you hand yours over.
Page 1 — The cover page
| Field | What it tells the reader |
|---|---|
| Participants | Everyone in the conversation. The account holder is marked, and each other person's name is shown next to their actual phone number or email. |
| Date range | The first and last message in the export. |
| Messages included | The exact count, so nobody has to count them. |
| Bates range | The first and last page identifiers. A continuous range shows no page is missing. |
| Source database | Where the original Messages database was on the Mac. |
| Source SHA-256 | The fingerprint of the snapshot this export was made from. More on the hash. |
| Imported / Exported | When the snapshot was taken and when this PDF was produced. |
Check: the names match the numbers, and the date range and count are what you expected.
Page 2 — The declaration of authenticity
Six numbered statements: that you're a party to the conversation, that the record came from the Mac's Messages database without being changed, the SHA-256 hash, the message count and date range, the first Bates number, and that you haven't edited, deleted, or rearranged anything. These technical details are filled in by the app, so the statement points to this exact export.
The closing wording changes with the jurisdiction you choose:
- United States: a penalty-of-perjury declaration in the form of 28 U.S.C. § 1746.
- Canada: a statutory declaration, made before a commissioner for oaths or notary.
- United Kingdom: a statement of truth.
- Generic: neutral wording for anywhere else.
Check: your name is right. Don't sign until your lawyer has read it; they may prefer their own form. You can also leave this page out of the export.
Pages 3–5 — The transcript
- Every message shows its date, time, and sender, in order.
- Photos appear inline where they were sent. Page 4 of the sample has one.
- Reactions (the thumbs-up, the heart) are shown under the message they were added to, not as separate messages.
- Edited and unsent messages are marked as such rather than silently dropped.
- Videos, voice memos, and documents are listed by file name, type, and size.
- The running header names the conversation. The footer carries "Page X of Y" and the Bates number.
Check: skim for photos marked "not found." That means the Mac never downloaded them. How to fix it.
Make one from your own messages
Download the app free, find the conversation, and see it before you pay anything. The export is pay what feels fair.
Legal Message Export produces a documented record. It doesn't guarantee that a court will admit it; that's the judge's decision. The declaration is a template, not legal advice. Review it with your lawyer before filing.