Start with the right question
Review the statement sentence by sentence against the records and your actual recollection. A fluent draft can still be inaccurate, especially if it was summarized or rewritten by AI. Keep an earlier version so you can identify substantive changes rather than assuming that polished wording preserves the original meaning.
Work through the checks
Identify the source of each fact
Mark direct observation, a document, another person's statement, or an inference. Attribute reported information accurately. If you cannot identify a source, decide whether the statement should be qualified, investigated, or removed rather than made more confident.
Check dates and quantities
Compare numbers with the source records, including units and time zones where relevant. Preserve approximate dates as approximate. Do not convert 'about two weeks later' into an exact date without evidence.
Verify quotations and context
Use quotation marks only for wording you can support accurately. Keep enough context to avoid changing the meaning of a message. A summary belongs in your own words with its source identified, not inside invented quotation marks.
Review the final submission requirements
Check any required format, signature, declaration, privacy, or attachment instructions for the recipient. Understand what you are affirming before signing. A language tool cannot personally attest to events or approve a court filing for you.
A record you can use
- Sentence or paragraph reference.
- Fact source and supporting document location.
- Observation, report, estimate, or inference label.
- Correction or qualification needed.
- Final format and signature requirements checked.
Keep this record locally. Use document references rather than publishing account numbers or other people's personal details. An empty field means the information is still missing; it should not be filled with an AI guess.
Worked example
A draft says a contractor 'admitted the work was defective.' The original message says the contractor would inspect a reported problem. The reviewer replaces the unsupported admission with the actual message and its date. They keep their own description of the problem separate instead of making the message say more than it does.
This example is fictional and illustrates the method, not a real case result.
Limits and next steps
Required statements and declarations can carry legal consequences. Use qualified advice for contested facts, required sworn language, or uncertainty about what must be disclosed.
Read the final version independently of the draft tool and compare it with the attachments. Keep a copy of exactly what was submitted, including its date and recipient.
Official guidance to check
- California small claims preparation guidance
- Tulare County Law Library guidance on legal AI — AI output requires verification