Abstract: A system and method combining registration with a trusted third party, certificate generation, hashing, encryption, customizable file identification fields, and time-stamping technology with recognized “best practice” procedures to achieve the legal admissibility and evidential weight of any form of digital file or collection of digital files. Generally, the originator of the file (the first party) and the originator's employing organization are registered with a Trusted Third Party. The originator reduces the file, by means of a hashing algorithm, to a fixed bit length binary pattern. This provides a unique digital fingerprint of the file. The resultant hash value, the originator's identity details, the employing organization details associated and securely linked to the digital certificate, the title of the file, customizable file identification fields, and other relevant data are forwarded to a Trusted Third Party where the date and time from a known and trusted time source are added.