The short answer
What Illinois families should know.
A timeline, diagram, or chart can make financial or parenting evidence easier to follow. Its usefulness depends on accuracy and a clear connection to the underlying proof. A polished visual does not acquire evidentiary value simply because it looks authoritative.
Decide what role the visual will play
Some visuals help explain testimony; others are offered as summaries of voluminous records. The intended use affects the foundation and procedure. Rule 1006 addresses summaries of material that cannot conveniently be examined in court, with requirements concerning the underlying originals or duplicates. Counsel should decide the evidentiary route before preparing a final graphic, not after an objection interrupts the hearing.
Make every entry traceable
A transaction chart should identify the account, date range, and source of each amount. A parenting timeline should distinguish documented events from disputed assertions. Use consistent units and explain whether figures are gross, net, monthly, or annual. A chart that mixes those measures can mislead even when each individual number was copied correctly. Retain the calculation file and source documents.
Show uncertainty and avoid argumentative design
A neutral label such as disputed transfer is more accurate than presenting theft as an established fact when the issue remains contested. Avoid distorted scales, selective date windows, and missing offsetting entries. The visual should help the judge evaluate the evidence rather than conceal assumptions. If reasonable interpretations differ, explain the difference directly and show how it changes the result.
Prepare the foundation and the courtroom format
Identify a witness who can explain how the exhibit was made and verify its accuracy. Follow required exchange and exhibit procedures. Test readability and playback in the expected hearing format. The court’s control over presentation and concerns about confusion or wasted time remain relevant. A simpler chart with transparent sources often communicates more than a dense display that requires extensive explanation.
Prepare
Useful next steps
- Keep each number or timeline entry linked to a source record.
- Distinguish an illustrative aid from a proposed Rule 1006 summary.
- Check totals, units, date ranges, and omitted entries.
Avoid
Common missteps
- Using visual labels to present disputed allegations as established facts.
- Discarding underlying records after preparing a summary.
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This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Laws, court rules, local procedures, and individual facts can change the analysis. Reading it or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.