Family law

What Are Exhibits in a Family Law Declaration and How Do You Reference Them?

Quick answer

A declaration tells the court your side of the story, and exhibits are the documents that back it up. Labeling them Exhibit A, Exhibit B, and so on, and pointing to each one inside your declaration, lets the judge check your claims without hunting through a pile of paper.

Researched by Dan Martin, Legal Researcher · Published by Onbello Legal · Last updated June 2026

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Exhibit A, Exhibit B: tying your declaration to your proof

What an exhibit is and why it matters

An exhibit is a document, photo, screenshot, or record you attach to a court filing to support a statement you made under penalty of perjury. Text messages, school attendance records, pay stubs, calendar printouts, and emails are common examples in custody and support cases.

Judges read many files and have limited time. A declaration that says something happened is a claim. A declaration that says something happened and points to the exact page where the proof sits is far easier to credit. Exhibits turn your word into something the court can verify.

How to label and reference exhibits

Most courts expect exhibits to be labeled in order with letters or numbers, such as Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C. Each exhibit gets a cover page or a clear label so anyone flipping through the filing can find it. The exact labeling style, page-numbering rules, and whether you need an exhibit list vary by state and sometimes by county, so check your state's guide and your local court's instructions.

Inside the declaration, reference the exhibit right where you make the claim. For example, after describing a missed exchange, write that the text message confirming it is attached as Exhibit B. If an exhibit is long, point to the specific page or date so the judge does not have to read the whole thing to find the relevant part.

Choosing what to attach

Attach only what proves a point you actually make in the declaration. A thick stack of unexplained screenshots weakens a filing, because the judge has no way to know why each one is there. Every exhibit should answer to a sentence in your declaration, and every important factual claim should ideally have an exhibit behind it.

Keep exhibits readable and complete. Screenshots should show dates, names, and the full exchange rather than a cropped fragment. Records from third parties, such as schools or doctors, are usually stronger than your own notes. Some documents, like financial records or anything involving a child, may need to be redacted or handled under special rules that vary by state, so review your state's guide before filing.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common problem is a mismatch: the declaration mentions Exhibit C but the attached document is labeled something else, or the exhibit is missing entirely. Before filing, read your declaration one more time and confirm every exhibit reference matches an actual attachment in the right order.

Other frequent issues include attaching documents that were never mentioned in the declaration, using exhibits to add new arguments instead of supporting the ones already made, and forgetting that the other side and the judge will both see everything you attach. Whether the court will consider an exhibit, and what rules apply to things like hearsay or authentication, depends on your state and the type of hearing, so treat this page as general information and check your state's guide. Onbello prepares documents and is not a law firm.

Specifics by state

Family law is state-specific. The general idea is similar everywhere, but the forms, rules, and deadlines vary by state. Here is this topic in the states we cover in detail.

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Where to check this

Forms, deadlines, and local rules change. Verify anything on this page against the official self-help resources for your state before you rely on it.

This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Laws and local rules vary and change. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed family-law attorney in your state.