Evidence ledger template for Excel and Google Sheets.
Download a blank evidence ledger and a fictional worked example. Use five columns to connect each research claim to its source, record what still needs checking, and assign a reviewer. No signup required.
- Format
- CSV · Excel · Google Sheets
- Includes
- Blank template + fictional example
- Cost
- Free · no signup
What is an evidence ledger?
An evidence ledger is a table that connects a claim to the records supporting it and the questions still unresolved. A memo can summarize your conclusion; the ledger preserves the steps behind it. This template is designed for commercial property research, but the same five columns work for other document-based research.
The five columns in both downloads.
| Column | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Claim | One specific statement about one property, entity, or document. |
| Supporting evidence | Agency, document ID, page, source URL, record date, and date accessed. Keep an authorized copy when permitted. |
| Verification gap | What the source does not establish, conflicting records, and the next check required. |
| Sharing rules | Who may see the row and what qualification must travel with the claim. |
| Reviewer | Assigned reviewer and review date; use Unassigned until someone checks the row. |
Worked example: fictional commercial property research.
| Claim | Supporting evidence | Verification gap | Sharing rules | Reviewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FICTIONAL: A recorded mortgage states a September 30, 2027 maturity date. | Synthetic mortgage DEMO-MTG-001, page 6; recorded September 30, 2022. No real filing or property. | Current maturity unverified. Check for modifications, extensions, releases, and payoff; original date alone is insufficient. | Training only. Describe as a date stated in a fictional original document, not a currently due loan. | Unassigned — synthetic example, not reviewed. |
| FICTIONAL: A deed names Example Property LLC as grantee. | Synthetic deed DEMO-DEED-001, page 1. No real filing or property. | Later transfers, exact parcel match, and beneficial ownership have not been checked. | Training only. The named grantee does not establish current control or authority to sell. | Unassigned — synthetic example, not reviewed. |
| FICTIONAL: A historical tax entry shows an unpaid balance. | Synthetic tax entry DEMO-TAX-001, dated June 1, 2026. No real filing or property. | Current payments, corrections, disputes, and any sale status are unknown. | Training only. Do not infer current delinquency, distress, or willingness to sell. | Unassigned — synthetic example, not reviewed. |
- 01
Open or import the CSV
In Excel, use Data → From Text/CSV. In Google Sheets, use File → Import → Upload. Keep the five column headers.
- 02
Write one claim per row
Separate a recorded owner name, a relationship inference, and a maturity date into different rows.
- 03
Make the source retrievable
Record both the document identifier and its official source URL, plus page and access date. An internal abbreviation alone is not enough.
- 04
Describe the remaining uncertainty
Use specific gaps such as Later extensions not checked. A blank cell or an unexplained None does not show what was reviewed.
- 05
Assign and date the review
Keep the row marked Unassigned until a person completes the stated checks. Update the row when new evidence changes the claim.
Questions and boundaries
Where are the free downloads?
Does the worked example contain real property records?
Does a recorded mortgage maturity date establish current loan status?
Is this an Excel workbook?
Put the ledger beside your source checklist.
Use the owner research checklist to choose the next records to inspect, or read how to investigate a maturity date in county records.
See a source-linked property review.
Review the documented research trail before choosing a next step.
Search is free. Request access for the full research workspace, or open the sample property review.