1. State the real question
Write the decision or uncertainty in one plain sentence. If the question keeps changing, the scope is not yet clear.
2. Preserve the source record
Keep original documents unchanged. Record where each item came from, when it was created and whether it is complete.
3. Separate evidence from assertion
A confident statement is not automatically evidence. Mark what is supported, disputed, assumed or still unknown.
4. Build the chronology and relationships
Connect people, events, documents, payments, claims and decisions. Contradictions often become visible only when the parts are placed together.
5. Ask what is missing
A good review shows its limits. Identify the records or expertise still required before commitment.
6. Keep authority clear
The review should improve the information available to the decision owner. It should not quietly take the decision away.
Important: Case notes are anonymised and limited to the records and purpose described. They are not promises of the same outcome in another matter.