sbcglobal.net that she uses with Mail on her Mac.

imap or pop?

I don't know and she won't know.

I can take a look next weekend. Probably pop. I'm 85% sure pop.

How old is the email under question?

Less than a year old? It's about my Dad, so May or later.

If the sent items in Mail are not easily manipulated, she can call for a mobile notary to come to the house, log in, verify, print with full headers and stamp. Where's the flaw in this? It seems like the answer so long as you're willing to pay the mobile notary and she totally is.

I mean, that probably won't work if it goes to court but the whole point of this is to avoid that mess.

All a notary can do is sign that you or your mom is stating that the document is an exact copy. The notary does not actually verify the exactness. Think of a deposition, compelling truthfulness, that is what the notary is doing. If it is found to not be an exact copy, then you are liable for purgery.

Cass,

echoing Suzi, in my experience with notaries, they can only verify that they saw your license and that you signed a document on a particular date. they can't (usually) do more than that - like certify authenticity.

If you want that step, I would probably see if you can get a certified tech person to take a look at the email and do a statement to the effect that the mail does not seem to be tampered with, etc. A mac specialist probably can do a deep file comparison on the Mail files and also state when the last time was that the file was changed (and perhaps what kind of changes were made).

You might be able to see if someone at the Apple Store can do this for you - and if they would charge a fee if you don't want to do the school/university route. There are probably grad students in Computer Sciences/Engineering who might be able to help (and are certified to work on macs).

FWIW, do you have a Legal Aid near you? You might be able to get some advice from them regarding how to word the letter.

The notary does not actually verify the exactness.

Thus my question on how easily manipulated the Sent mail is in Mail. Because this plan only works if it isn't. Not because she'd have changed it but it'd be worthless if it was known to be easily changed.

Hmm. is the company your fam dealing with technical experts?

Do you think it would satisfy them to know all she did was print the email messages and have a stranger verify that?

She's contacted her lawyer and sent copies of everything. But if there is a quicker and easier way to make the person at the company admit that they edited the email she sent them (basically that they lied or tried to lie or made a mistake) and have this part be over? Well, over is good.

I would probably see if you can get a certified tech person to take a look at the email and do a statement to the effect that the mail does not seem to be tampered with, etc. A mac specialist probably can do a deep file comparison on the Mail files and also state when the last time was that the file was changed (and perhaps what kind of changes were made).

It's the finding a certified tech person. I don't know where to look.