Free wording tracker: follow a phrase through the record

A one-page worksheet for tracking how a phrase changes from one document to the next in a family court case. It is free to download and does not need an email address.

Download the wording tracker (PDF, 1 page)

What it is for

Records in a case are written and rewritten. A statement that begins as one person’s allegation can, several documents later, read as though it were established. The tracker gives you one page to log where a phrase appears, in date order: the exact words, who said it, what kind of statement it is, and what changed since the last version.

How to use it

1. Choose a phrase that could affect your case.
2. List each document where it appears, in date order.
3. Copy the exact words each time.
4. Note who said it, what kind of statement it is, and what changed.

The three shaded rows on the page are an invented illustration and are not from any real case.

What it does not do

It does not tell you whether a phrase is right or wrong, and it is not legal advice. When You Can’t See Your Child explains how to read what the table shows and how to raise a concern about wording in writing. You can read eight sample pages first.

Keep your completed sheet private. Do not post it online or share documents from your case: see the checklist and our guides on what may be shared. You may share the blank tracker unchanged, with credit. Using this material