Key points
- Screenshots and manual logs are easy to question: were any deleted, were any edited, is the record complete?
- FenceChat keeps every message, original and filtered, with a timestamp, automatically.
- On the Legal plan you can export a timestamped PDF formatted for your solicitor, or a spreadsheet on Protected and above.
- Because the archive is created as messages arrive, it is consistent and complete, not pieced together after the fact.
- You control your data: export any time, and delete your account whenever you choose.
- To print text messages for court, include every message with its date, time and sender, in order and with nothing left out.
A friendly note: This guide shares general information to help you understand your options. It isn’t legal advice, and it can’t tell you what to do in your own situation. For that, a lawyer or a free legal service is the best next step, and you’ll find some in Where to get help.
If a difficult situation becomes a legal one, the question is always the same: can you show what was said, and when? Most people rely on screenshots or a folder of forwarded messages. That can work, but it invites doubt. Were some messages left out? Could a screenshot have been edited? Is the record complete and in order?
Why an automatic archive is stronger
FenceChat builds the record for you as messages arrive. Every message is stored in two forms, the original exactly as it was sent and the filtered version you received, each with a timestamp. Nothing depends on you remembering to capture it in the moment, so the archive is consistent and complete rather than assembled later under stress.
What you can export
- Spreadsheet export on the Protected and Legal plans, for a portable copy of your messages that opens in Excel, Numbers or Google Sheets.
- Timestamped PDF on the Legal plan, professionally structured and formatted for your solicitor or legal team.
- Scheduled monthly PDF on the Legal plan, delivered to your inbox so your record is always current.
How to export
Open your Dashboard, go to the message archive, and choose the export you need. The spreadsheet downloads straight away. On the Legal plan, the PDF is generated with timestamps and a clear layout you can send directly to your solicitor, and you can also send it from within FenceChat.
How to print text messages for court
Lawyers and courts usually want a printed or PDF copy of the whole conversation, not a handful of screenshots. In the US, rules vary by state and court; our guide to text messages as evidence in US courts explains the basics. However you make it, the printout should show:
- The date and time of every message.
- Who sent each message, with their name, number or email address.
- The whole conversation in order, including your own replies, not just the worst messages.
- Page numbers, so it is clear nothing is missing.
From your phone. On an iPhone or Android phone you can screenshot the conversation from start to finish and print the screenshots, or use a message export app to save the thread as a PDF. Screenshots are quick, but they are easy to question as incomplete, so take them in order with no gaps.
From FenceChat. Every message sent to your FenceChat number or address is already saved with its time and sender. On the Legal plan, export the PDF and print it, or send the file to your solicitor. It shows the original and the filtered version of each message, and comes with a second file that anyone can use to check nothing has been changed.
Your data stays yours
You can export at any time, and you can delete your account whenever you choose. FenceChat does not sell your information. How long messages are retained depends on your plan: 30 days on Essential, 90 days on Protected, and 24 months on Legal.
Where to get help
These services are free or low-cost. If you or someone else is in danger, call your local emergency number first.
Australia
If you feel unsafe
- Emergency: 000 Police, ambulance or fire, if you or someone else is in danger.
- 1800RESPECT Free, confidential counselling for family, domestic and sexual violence, any time. 1800 737 732.
Online abuse, stalking and cybercrime
- eSafety Commissioner Report serious online abuse and image-based abuse.
- ReportCyber Report cybercrime affecting you or your business.
Free or low-cost legal help
- National Legal Aid Find free legal help in your state or territory.
- Law Council of Australia Links to each state law society, which can refer you to a lawyer.
Someone to talk to
- Lifeline Crisis support and suicide prevention, any time. 13 11 14.
- Beyond Blue Support for anxiety, stress and low mood. 1300 22 4636.
United States
If you feel unsafe
- Emergency: 911 Police, ambulance or fire, if you or someone else is in danger.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline Free, confidential support, any time. Call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.
Online abuse, stalking and cybercrime
- Cyber Civil Rights Initiative Support for online and image-based abuse, including a free helpline, any time: 844-878-2274.
- Stalking Prevention, Awareness and Resource Center Information and resources about stalking.
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center Report internet crime.
Free or low-cost legal help
- Legal Services Corporation Find free civil legal aid near you.
- LawHelp.org Free legal information and help, by state.
Someone to talk to
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Call or text 988 for crisis support, any time.
United Kingdom
If you feel unsafe
- Emergency: 999 Police, ambulance or fire, if you or someone else is in danger.
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline Free, confidential support, any time. 0808 2000 247.
Online abuse, stalking and cybercrime
- National Stalking Helpline Advice for people affected by stalking. 0808 802 0300.
- Victim Support Free support for people affected by crime.
Free or low-cost legal help
- Citizens Advice Free, confidential advice on legal and everyday problems.
- Law Society: Find a Solicitor Find a solicitor near you.
Someone to talk to
- Samaritans Someone to talk to, any time. Call 116 123.
- Mind Mental health information and support.
Frequently asked questions
What formats can I export?
A spreadsheet on Protected and Legal plans, and a timestamped PDF formatted for your solicitor on the Legal plan. Legal also offers a scheduled monthly PDF by email.
Does the export include the original messages?
Yes. Both the unfiltered original and the filtered version are stored and included, each with a timestamp.
Is the archive created automatically?
Yes. Every message in and out is stored as it happens, so you do not have to capture anything manually.
How long are messages kept?
30 days on Essential, 90 days on Protected, and 24 months on Legal. You can export them at any time, and deleting your account removes them all straight away.
Will an export be accepted in court?
FenceChat gives you a complete, timestamped record, but whether a court accepts it depends on your jurisdiction and matter. A solicitor or lawyer can tell you how it applies to yours.
How do I print text messages for court?
Print the whole conversation in order, showing the date, time and sender of every message, with page numbers. You can screenshot and print from your phone, or, if the messages came through FenceChat, export the Legal plan PDF and print that. Keep the original messages too.