Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about using Warrant Path, the template library, and how the tool handles your data. See About, Privacy, and Terms of use for the full policies these answers summarize.
Last updated September 20, 2026
Using Warrant Path
What is Warrant Path?
Warrant Path is a free, browser-based tool that fills in Texas search-warrant paperwork from a short questionnaire — affidavit, warrant or order, and return — plus a preservation-letter template, built and reviewed against current Texas statutes and case law. See About for what “reviewed” means and who built it.
Who is it for?
Texas law-enforcement officers, investigators, and trainers drafting search-warrant paperwork. It's a drafting aid, not a substitute for your agency's own form requirements or your prosecutor's review.
Does it cost anything, and do I need an account?
No and no. Warrant Path is free, with no account, sign-up, or login of any kind.
What does a finished packet actually contain?
For the search-warrant templates, the wizard assembles the caption and boilerplate for an affidavit, a warrant (with an order of non-disclosure where the template includes one), and a return. The Preservation Letter template instead assembles an 18 U.S.C. § 2703(f) letter — see “Is the Preservation Letter a warrant?” below.
How do I get the finished document out of the tool?
The review step offers four ways to get it out: “Print / Save as PDF” (through your browser's print dialog), “Copy text,” “Download as .html,” and “Download as Word (.docx).” All four happen locally in your browser, and nothing is uploaded anywhere to generate the file.
Can I save my progress and come back later?
No — there is no save/resume feature, on purpose (see Privacy). If you need to step away, use the “Print worksheet so far” button available on the case-information and template-specific steps to print or save a paper copy of everything you have entered, then re-enter it if you come back later.
Can I see what a finished packet looks like before I start one?
Yes — every template has a “View sample” link, on the homepage and on the template-picker step, that shows a fully filled-in example using an obviously fictional case. It is generated by the same code that builds a real packet, so it matches exactly what you would get.
Templates and accuracy
How many templates are there, and what do they cover?
The current library covers digital accounts (Apple, Google, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat), devices and networks (cellphone/wireless device, carrier records, wireless router), vehicles (physical search, infotainment/telematics, UAV/UAS), financial records (payment apps, banks), and a preservation letter. See the template library for the full current list with statute citations.
What does “reviewed” mean?
It means the template's boilerplate was checked against current Texas statutes, the case law the template actually relies on, and the named provider's public law-enforcement process page, as of the date shown. It is not a guarantee that the packet is valid for your specific facts, that the law has not changed since that date, or that a magistrate will sign it. See About for the full explanation.
Does Warrant Path write my probable-cause narrative for me?
No. The tool does not draft probable cause. It places the case facts you type into marked fields in a reviewed template — your narrative, your facts, your wording — and marks exactly where that content goes.
Does it choose my Penal Code section or degree of offense?
No. The Penal Code field is a searchable reference — picking or typing a listed section shows a read-only note on the typical offense name and classification, and for a handful of sections it will flag if the Degree you picked looks off. It never fills in or changes Degree for you; that stays a required field you choose yourself from your case facts.
Is the Preservation Letter a warrant?
No. It is a request under 18 U.S.C. § 2703(f) asking a provider to preserve existing records for up to 90 days (with one possible extension) while you obtain the legal process needed to actually compel disclosure. Send it in parallel with drafting your warrant, not instead of one.
What if I find an error, a stale citation, or outdated provider language?
Email sray@randallso.gov with a subject line like Template: Apple — cite error, and include only the template, the paragraph or field, and the correct cite or language — no case facts, names, or identifiers. See About for the full process.
Privacy and how it runs
Is anything I type saved or sent anywhere?
No. Warrant Path runs entirely in your browser — there is no server-side backend behind the questionnaire or the documents it produces. Case details, template answers, and generated documents live only in your browser's memory for as long as the tab is open.
Does the site track me?
It uses Cloudflare Web Analytics to count page visits — no tracking cookies, and it never sees anything you type into a worksheet. See Privacy for the full breakdown, including what Cloudflare logs as part of ordinary web hosting.
What happens if I close the tab, refresh, or my browser crashes?
Everything you have entered is gone — there is nothing to recover, because nothing was ever stored anywhere but that tab's memory. That is a deliberate privacy trade-off; use “Print worksheet so far” if you need a paper trail mid-task.
Legal
Is this legal advice?
No. Using Warrant Path does not create an attorney-client relationship, and it does not replace your agency's or prosecutor's review. See Terms of use.
Who is responsible if something in a generated document is wrong?
You and your agency. Warrant Path is provided as-is, with no warranty that any template is complete, accurate, or current — you are responsible for reviewing every field, adding your case-specific facts, and getting the document reviewed before filing.
Is Warrant Path affiliated with Apple, Google, or any other provider named in the templates?
No. Warrant Path is not affiliated with Apple, Google, Meta, Snap, any carrier, any financial institution, or any other provider a template names. Links to a provider's law-enforcement portal go straight to that provider's own site.
What law governs the use of this tool?
Texas law, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. See Terms of use for the complete terms.