A useful digital custody log is append-only. It records material evidence-handling events without pretending that every file open needs courtroom-level paperwork.
Events worth recording
- Collection or receipt
- Copy or transfer to a new storage location
- Processing that creates derivatives
- Hash verification
- Production or transmission to another party
- Archival or controlled disposal
Minimum event fields
Use an event ID, source ID, timestamp, action, from and to custodian or location, storage location, hash before, hash after, operator, and notes. If no hash comparison occurred, leave it visibly blank rather than claiming a match.
Know the limitation
A custody log supports retrieval and provenance review. Whether it satisfies a legal or professional requirement depends on the matter and governing rules. The current Federal Rules of Evidence are the authoritative federal starting point; obtain qualified legal advice for a specific case.