A free legal chronology template for court.
A chronology is a dated list of what happened, in order, with your evidence noted against each event. Here is the format courts and lawyers expect, with a worked example. Build it online for free, or download the blank template as Word or PDF. Some courts and guides call the same document a legal timeline of events; the template works for both.
The online builder is the fastest and most private option: it runs in your browser, so nothing you type is uploaded.
The format: three columns
A chronology is simplest when it is a plain three-column table. One row per event: the date it happened, a short factual sentence of what happened, and the source or evidence that proves it. Keep each row to one event, and sort them oldest to newest.
| Date | What happened | Source / evidence |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb 2026 | Signed a 12-month residential tenancy agreement for the property. | Signed lease agreement |
| 14 May 2026 | Reported a leaking hot water system to the agent in writing. | Email to agent, 14 May |
| 2 Jun 2026 | Followed up by phone. Agent said, words to the effect of, that a plumber would be arranged that week. | File note of call, 2 Jun |
| 25 Jun 2026 | Lodged an application with the tribunal about the unrepaired leak. | Tribunal application receipt |
Example only. The dates, events and evidence above are made up to show the format.
Get the template
Three ways to use it. Pick whichever suits you.
Build it online
The fastest option, and the most private. Add each event and it sorts itself into date order, grouped by year. Nothing is uploaded, and you export a clean copy when you are ready.
Download for Word
A blank three-column table you can type straight into, add rows to, and reorder by hand. Best if you would rather work in a document you already know.
Download as PDF
The same blank template as a PDF, ready to print and fill in by hand, or to keep as a clean reference for the layout.
How to use this template
Five steps to turn a scattered pile into a clear, ordered chronology.
Start with the facts you are sure of
Put each event on its own row. Write one plain sentence of what happened, and nothing more. You can always add rows as you remember them.
Add the date
Use a real date wherever you can. If you are not certain, give your best estimate and write "approximately", or use a range like "early March 2026". A rough date is far better than leaving the event out.
Note the evidence
In the third column, name what proves it: a text message, an email, a medical letter, a bank statement, a photo. This lets a reader move straight from a date to the document behind it.
Put it in date order
Sort every row oldest to newest, so a reader can follow the sequence from top to bottom. The online builder does this for you as you type.
Read it back as a stranger would
Every row should be a fact with a date. If a line is how you feel about the fact, move it to your statement. A tight, factual list is easier to follow and harder to pick apart.
What to leave out: opinion and argument. A chronology is facts and dates only. Your interpretation, how events made you feel, characterisations of the other person and your legal argument all belong in your statement or submissions, not here. If a line is not a fact with a date, it does not belong in the table.
Where this comes from
The primary sources behind the above, so you can check any of it yourself rather than take our word for it:
- Legal Aid NSW, the state body that provides free legal information, advice and representation, and publishes plain-English guides and sample documents.
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, the court that deals with most family law matters outside Western Australia, and publishes its own forms and procedural material.
- Wikipedia: Chronology, a general explanation of what a chronology is and how events are arranged in order.
Common questions
What is a legal chronology?
A dated list of the key events in your matter, set out in order, with a note of the evidence for each. Courts and lawyers use one to follow what happened at a glance. The standard format is a three-column table: the date, a plain sentence of what happened, and the source or evidence that proves it.
What is the difference between a chronology and a timeline?
In practice they are the same thing: events in date order. "Chronology" is the word lawyers, courts and tribunals use; "timeline" is the everyday word for it. This template works for either, and the builder produces the same document whichever word your matter uses.
Do courts accept this chronology format?
There is no single mandated form, but a three-column table of Date, What happened and Source or evidence is the standard, widely used layout for a chronology in Australian courts and tribunals. If your court, tribunal or a registrar has given a specific direction about format, follow that instead.
Is my information private when I use this template?
Yes. The blank Word and PDF templates download to your own device and stay there. If you build your chronology in the online builder instead, it runs entirely in your browser: nothing you type is uploaded and nothing is stored on a server. You decide what to save and who to share it with.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
Start your chronology now.
Open the builder, clear the example, and add your first event. It sorts itself into date order as you go.