Case Chronology Builder
Whenever a matter has more documents than you can hold in your head, to build a sourced timeline that separates what is undisputed from what is contested and shows where the record is thin.
A good chronology is the backbone of almost every litigated matter. It drives the complaint or answer, the deposition outlines, the summary judgment statement of facts and the mediation statement. Building one by hand means reading every document, pulling each date, and keeping track of which source said what, which is exactly where conflicting dates and undated documents slip through.
This prompt asks Claude to build the chronology only from the documents you paste, each in its own tagged block with an id and Bates number. Every row carries the source, the exact supporting quote, a one-line note on significance and a status of undisputed, disputed or unclear. After the table, Claude lists conflicting dates with both quotes, undated items with a suggested placement and the reasoning, and gaps in the record with the documents or witnesses likely to fill them.
The chronology is a working tool, not evidence. Claude can misread a date, attribute an event to the wrong document, or miss context that a witness would supply. Verify each entry against the source before relying on it, and decide for yourself which facts are truly disputed. Nothing in the table should go into a filing until an attorney has checked it.
The Prompt
I represent [PARTY ROLE], [CLIENT NAME], in [MATTER DESCRIPTION]. I need a working case chronology built only from the documents below. <document id="1" name="[NAME, e.g., Email from J. Ortiz]" bates="[BATES OR N/A]"> [PASTE TEXT] </document> <document id="2" name="[NAME]" bates="[BATES OR N/A]"> [PASTE TEXT] </document> [REPEAT FOR EACH DOCUMENT] Key issues in the case: [e.g., when the defect was first reported; who approved the change order] Period of interest: [START] to [END] Build a table with columns: Date | Event | Source (document id and name, with page or Bates) | Quote (the exact words supporting the entry) | Significance (which issue it bears on, one line) | Status (Undisputed, Disputed, Unclear). Rules: - One event per row, in date order. Use the date the event happened, not the date a document mentions it, and note both when they differ. - If a date is approximate or inferred, mark it "approx." and explain the inference in the Event column. - Mark an entry Disputed only when the documents conflict or a party's stated position contests it, and name the conflicting document. - Do not add facts that are not in the documents. After the table give: 1. Conflicting dates: every place two sources give different dates or versions of the same event, with both quotes. 2. Undated items: material events or documents without a date, and your best placement, if any, with reasons. 3. Gaps: periods or issues with no documentation, and the specific documents or witnesses likely to fill them. This is a working draft for attorney review. I will verify every entry against its source.
Example Output
A sortable chronology table with dates, events, sources, supporting quotes, significance and dispute status, followed by lists of conflicting dates, undated items and documentary gaps.
Illustrative example — names, figures, and facts are fictional.
CASE CHRONOLOGY (WORKING DRAFT): Marsh v. Marsh, property division (fictional) 2021-06-14 | Kestrel Lane house purchased | Doc 2, Closing Statement p.1 | "Settlement date: 06/14/2021. Borrower: Daniel Marsh." | Title in one spouse's name before the marriage | Undisputed 2021-09-04 | Parties married | Doc 1, Marriage Certificate | "Date of marriage: September 4, 2021" | Marital period begins | Undisputed 2022-03-09 | Joint account funds used for roof replacement | Doc 4, Bank statement, March 2022 | "03/09 CHK 3341 to Summit Roofing $18,400" | Possible marital contribution to a separate asset | Disputed (Doc 5 says the roof was paid from Daniel's brokerage account) 2023-11-02 | Refinance; Lena Marsh added to the deed | Doc 6, Deed p.2 | "Grantees: Daniel Marsh and Lena Marsh" | Possible transmutation issue | Undisputed CONFLICTING DATES AND VERSIONS - Roof payment: Doc 4 shows the payment from joint checking on 03/09/2022. Doc 5 (Daniel's declaration) says "I paid for the roof from my brokerage account in early 2022." Both may be partly true; request the brokerage statements. UNDATED ITEMS - Doc 7, handwritten note "Lena's $25k toward down payment." Best placement: before 06/14/2021, since it refers to a down payment; no date on its face. GAPS - No statements for the brokerage account for 2022. Request them from Daniel or by subpoena. - Nothing documents who paid the mortgage from 2021 to 2023. Request mortgage statements and joint account records. All names and facts are fictional and illustrative.
Tips
- •Give each document an id and Bates number in the tag; the Source column becomes far more useful when every row points to a pin cite.
- •Run large document sets in batches by time period or custodian, then ask Claude to merge the tables and re-check for conflicts.
- •The 'Conflicting dates' list is often where the case is. Review it before the main table.
- •Paste the table into a spreadsheet so you can sort and filter by issue or status as the case develops.
- •The chronology is a draft for attorney review; verify every quote against the source before it goes into a brief or a client update.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many documents can I paste at once?
It depends on document length and the plan you use, but quality usually holds up better in batches. A practical approach is to run documents for one period or one custodian at a time, then ask Claude to merge the tables, de-duplicate events and re-run the conflict check across the combined chronology.
Why separate the event date from the document date?
Because they are often different, and the difference matters. A March email describing a January meeting supports a January event, but it also shows what someone knew in March. Mixing the two produces timelines that look clean but mislead. The prompt asks Claude to use the event date and note both when they differ.
Can the chronology be shared with the client?
A version can, after review. The working chronology may contain attorney impressions in the significance column, so consider whether to share it as is or produce a client-facing version. Many lawyers remove the significance and status columns before sending a timeline to the client to check for accuracy.
Does this work for family law matters?
Yes. Family matters often turn on dates, such as when assets were acquired, when funds were commingled, or when incidents occurred. Paste financial records, messages and declarations as separate documents, and list the key issues, for example separate versus marital property, so the significance column focuses on what the court will decide.
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