Find every point where an exhibit came up in the testimony
During a deposition, documents are marked as exhibits and shown to the witness, then referred to again later by number. Following one exhibit through a long transcript is slow by hand. Ask Search+ when an exhibit was marked, what it was, and what the witness said about it, and open the cited passages to read each exchange in full.
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Last updated October 2026
How to trace exhibits with Search+
- Upload the transcript and the exhibits
Add the transcript and, where you have them, the exhibits themselves, whether they are PDFs, Word documents or Excel files. With both in one workspace, an answer can cite the testimony and the document the witness was looking at.
- Ask about one exhibit number at a time
Ask "When was Exhibit 12 marked and how was it described?" and then "What did the witness say about Exhibit 12 later in the deposition?"
- Check numbering across depositions
Some cases number exhibits continuously across depositions, others restart. If you have several transcripts, ask how the same document was numbered in each.
Questions about exhibit references
When was each exhibit marked, and how did counsel describe it?
Did the witness say they had seen this exhibit before, and when?
Did the witness confirm what the document is or who wrote it?
Which parts of Exhibit 7 did counsel ask the witness to read aloud?
List the exhibits referred to in this transcript and the page where each first appears.
What to check about exhibit references
Transcripts usually note when a document is marked for identification. That note is where the exhibit's description first appears.
Many transcripts include an exhibit index near the front listing each exhibit and the page where it was marked. Ask about it directly.
After marking, lawyers refer to the exhibit by number only. Asking about the number finds those later exchanges.
Whether the witness recognizes, authored or received the document often matters. Look for those questions near the marking.
With the exhibits in the same workspace, Search+ can cite both the testimony and the document, with page references when the files carry them.
Exhibit wording and what to ask next
| Wording you may see | What it usually signals | A follow-up question |
|---|---|---|
| "marked for identification" | A new exhibit enters the record | How was the document described when marked? |
| "I'm handing you what has been marked" | The witness is shown an exhibit | What did the witness say about it? |
| "Do you recognize this document?" | Authentication questions | Did the witness confirm what it is? |
| "previously marked as" | An exhibit from an earlier deposition | Which earlier transcript introduced it? |
| "Bates number" | A production number on the document | Which pages of the production were discussed? |
What are exhibit references in a deposition?
Exhibit references are the points in a deposition transcript where a document is marked as an exhibit, shown to the witness or discussed by its exhibit number.
Questions about exhibit references
Can Search+ find every mention of one exhibit?
Can it read the exhibit as well as the testimony?
What if exhibits are numbered differently in each deposition?
Can it list every exhibit in a transcript?
Is tracing exhibits with Search+ a form of legal advice?
Follow every document through the testimony
Start a workspace, upload the transcript and exhibits, and ask about each one.
Start a workspace