The Property Attorney's Guide to Estimatics

Evidence standards are changing

In appraisal and litigation, digital evidence is increasingly scrutinized. Courts and umpires expect documentation that can answer: Was this person present? Was this the actual condition? Has this evidence been modified?

Standard property claim documentation — photos in a folder, a scope in Xactimate, notes in an email — cannot answer these questions definitively.

What the evidence package contains

On the CERTIFY plan, each evidence package includes:

• Original photographs — unmodified binary files
• GPS coordinates — verified location at time of capture
• Timestamp metadata — capture time recorded on each photo
• Device identifier and app version — provenance chain
• AI findings — linked to their source photographs
• Per-file SHA-256 integrity hashing — plus an evidence audit log

If a file changes after capture, its SHA-256 hash no longer matches the recorded value, surfacing the modification.

Evidence completeness check

Before submission, an evidence completeness check reviews the documentation for gaps — missing areas, insufficient coverage, unlinked findings — so the evidence package can be filled out before it faces adversarial review.

What the integrity checks do NOT prove

The integrity checks verify that files have not changed since capture — not the interpretation. They do not prove causation, assign liability, or replace professional judgment. The attorney's expertise and the PA's license still govern the claim.

Getting started

Property attorneys typically work with a PA or contractor who uses Estimatics in the field. You receive the evidence package for your legal proceedings. You can also onboard directly for firms that manage their own field inspections.

Contact our team to discuss how CERTIFY integrates into your litigation workflow.

Related in the Help Center

• Evidence-linked estimation
• Evidence coverage tracking
• Certified evidence (SHA-256 integrity)