How to Document Abuse Safely Before a PFA Hearing in Pennsylvania

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233. Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County can be reached at 717-299-1249. If someone may be monitoring your device or accounts, consider using a safer device they cannot access.

When you file for a Protection From Abuse order in Pennsylvania, your testimony is the foundation of your case. But testimony alone is easier to dispute. What protects you is the documentation that supports what you say — and that documentation is something you can start building right now, before any hearing date is set.

This guide is written for people who are living with ongoing abuse and need to preserve proof safely, without escalating the danger at home. Every step here is designed to be practical and low-risk. If you already have a hearing date and want to know what to physically bring to the courtroom, the companion guide on what to bring to a PFA hearing in Pennsylvania covers that in detail.

Start Here: Protect Your Digital Safety

Before you document anything, make sure the documentation itself is safe. An abusive partner who discovers that you are building a case against them may become more dangerous. These steps reduce that risk:

• Use a device the other person cannot access. A phone or computer at work, a library computer, a trusted friend’s device, or a new free email account created on a private network all work.
• Enable private browsing if helpful, but understand its limits. Private browsing can reduce some locally stored browsing history, but it does not make your activity invisible to every form of monitoring — including shared accounts, device-management software, or network-level logging. When in doubt, use a device they cannot access.
• Store evidence somewhere they cannot reach. Cloud storage accounts they do not know about, an email account they have no access to, a USB drive kept at a trusted person’s home, or a locked physical folder are all options.
• Change passwords they may know. If they have access to your phone, email, or cloud accounts, change those passwords from a device they cannot monitor.

If you are not sure whether your devices or accounts are being monitored, the National Domestic Violence Hotline can connect you with local advocates who specialize in digital safety planning. You can also reach out to our Lancaster County office confidentially to speak with an attorney about your situation before taking any formal steps.

What Kinds of Documentation Help in a PFA Case

Pennsylvania courts look for evidence that corroborates your account of the abuse. The following types of records may be useful.

A Written Incident Log

Start keeping a written record of every incident as close to the time it happens as possible. For each entry, write:

• The date and time
• What happened, in specific detail — exact words said, physical actions taken, objects involved
• Where you were and who else was present
• How you felt and whether you were physically harmed
• What you did immediately after (called a friend, took photos, sought medical care)

A contemporaneous log may help preserve details about individual incidents and, where relevant, a pattern of conduct. Whether particular conduct qualifies as “abuse” under the Protection From Abuse Act depends on the statutory definition and the specific facts of the case.^[1]

Keep the log somewhere the other person cannot find it. A private email draft, a note-taking app protected by a password they do not know, or a physical journal kept outside the home all work.

Photographs

Photograph any visible injuries as soon as possible after they occur. Bruises and swelling often worsen over the first 24 to 48 hours — take photos on the day of the incident and again a day or two later.

Also photograph property damage: broken objects, damaged doors or walls, anything that documents a physical confrontation. Use your phone’s camera so that the date and time are automatically embedded in the file metadata.

Store copies immediately to an account or location they cannot access. Do not assume photos on your phone are safe if the other person knows your passcode.

Medical Records

Seek medical attention whenever you are injured, even if the injury seems minor. A medical record that describes an injury, its cause, and the date you sought treatment may corroborate your account in court.

When you see a provider, be direct about the cause of your injuries. You do not need to decide then whether you are pursuing legal action. The record created by an honest account of what happened will be there when you need it.

After your appointment, request a copy of the visit notes and keep them somewhere safe.

Police Report Numbers

If law enforcement was called to any incident, write down the date, the responding agency, and the report number. Even if no arrest was made, a police report documents that you contacted law enforcement and what you reported at the time.

You can typically request a copy of the report from the responding police department. In Lancaster City, that is the Lancaster City Police Department. In surrounding areas, it may be a township or borough department, or the Lancaster County Sheriff.

Text Messages, Voicemails, and Emails

Save every threatening, harassing, or intimidating message you receive. For texts, screenshot the conversation including the contact’s name and phone number, and the dates of the messages. For emails, save or forward them to an account they do not have access to. For voicemails, note the date and time and do not delete them.

Print copies if possible. Digital screenshots that show the contact information, message content, and timestamps are most useful to the court.

Social Media Posts and Online Messages

If the abuser has posted threatening content, sent harassing messages through social media platforms, or tagged you in intimidating posts, screenshot and save that content immediately. Social media content can be deleted without notice.

Screenshot the post or message along with the account name, profile photo, and URL visible on the screen. Date and time information visible on the platform adds credibility.

Documentation Tactics That Can Hurt Your Case or Put You at Risk

Not all documentation methods are safe or legal. Avoid the following:

Do not secretly record conversations.

Pennsylvania generally prohibits intentionally recording wire or oral communications without the required consent unless a statutory exception applies under Chapter 57 of Title 18. Unlawful interception under 18 Pa.C.S. § 5703 can carry criminal consequences.^[2] Get legal advice before recording any conversation, even if it feels like the only way to preserve what is happening.

Do not install tracking software on their devices.

Installing tracking or spyware software on another person’s phone or computer without their consent may violate federal and state wiretapping laws and could be considered stalking or harassment depending on the circumstances. It will not help your case and may harm it.

Do not confront them about the documentation.

If they know you are building a record, the dynamic at home may become more dangerous. Keep your documentation private.

Do not manufacture or exaggerate anything.

Your credibility is the foundation of your case. A single inconsistency that the other side can point to will be used against everything else you have. Document only what actually happened, in the most specific terms you can.

Where to Store Your Evidence Safely

Evidence stored in a place the abuser can find or destroy is not reliable. Consider the following:

• A private email account they do not know about — forward screenshots and photos there immediately after capturing them
• Cloud storage such as Google Drive or iCloud under a separate account created on a private network
• A USB drive kept at a trusted family member’s home, your workplace, or another location outside the house
• A locked, fireproof box at a location they cannot access

If you are working with a domestic violence advocate, they can help you with a safety plan that includes secure documentation storage. Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County offers confidential support and can connect you with advocates who do exactly this kind of planning.