Skip to main content

China-related matters · Research first

For lawyers/Contact/Log in
China Legal PortalResearch · Routes · Counsel
Ask a lawyer

Search the portal

Skip to guide content

Evidence · 02 Editorial guide

Evidence & preservation

Preservation is a source-and-integrity exercise. Hold the native record, document collection and custody, and separately decide whether court evidence preservation, notarisation, authentication, translation or cross-border data review is needed.

First job Preserve material evidence before it is lost or procedurally difficult to use.

Start here

Start here

Key considerations

The first questions are about urgency, governance and preservation — before collection expands or interviews begin.

  1. What material might disappear?
  2. What is already held, and in which form?
  3. Is notarisation or a court preservation step needed?

Decision map

Keep the question bounded.

  1. Define sources and custodiansMap contracts, ERP and accounting records, email, approved business messaging, devices, cloud systems, samples, inspection files and witnesses to disputed issues.
  2. Preserve native form and contextSuspend relevant deletion, retain metadata and attachments, record collection steps and keep a working copy separate from the preserved source.
  3. Fill evidence gaps lawfullyAssess court evidence preservation, third-party records, notarisation or other proof methods before access disappears; do not alter devices, coach witnesses or collect beyond authority.
  4. Prepare usable productionIndex provenance, relevance, confidentiality, translation and authenticity issues, while routing personal information, important data and state-secret risks to their owners.

Quick answers

Need the short version? Start with one narrow question.

These explainers answer one question. They do not replace this topic route or a deep guide.

Quick AnswerEvidence Rules in Chinese Civil LitigationPRC civil evidence is documentary-first: originals, chops, WeChat that can be notarised, and party-led production. US-style discovery does not exist. Reviewed 6 Sep 2026.

Curated resources

Open the asset that matches this job.

01
Guide

2023 Civil Procedure Law amendment

Official NPC amendment covering foreign-related jurisdiction, parallel proceedings, recognition and enforcement provisions effective from 2024.

Helpful to prepare

Facts that make the next conversation clearer.

These items are orientation aids, not a legal requirement list.

Evidence inventory with locationsHold notice ownerWhether a preservation application is in view

Evidence file

Preserve the record before the forum is chosen.

This is a preparation prompt, not a finding that any item is admissible or required.

  1. Signed contracts, chops, amendments, purchase orders and governing terms
  2. Native messages and email with metadata, attachments and participant identities
  3. Payment, invoice, delivery, acceptance, quality and rejection records
  4. ERP, access, version and audit logs with documented export method
  5. Physical samples, photographs, inspection records and custody history
  6. Witness map separating personal knowledge from assumption or hearsay
  7. Collection log, hash or integrity record where appropriate, translations and privilege flags

Local context

Add the forum city only when procedure changes.

Court, arbitration institution and preservation practice can differ after the national route is identified.

Open city and province guides

Counsel hand-off

Need disputes counsel?

This hub maps proceeding stage, evidence and forum. It does not decide claims, strategy or outcome on your facts.

Find disputes counsel

Submit an initial enquiry

Need qualified counsel?

Move carefully. Move with a record.

Use the portal to identify counsel for this practice and related China-side issues.

Find disputes counselSubmit an initial enquiry