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Digital Forensics

Data Extractions

Court-admissible forensic data extractions from cell phones, computers, tablets, and cloud accounts. Cellebrite UFED, Magnet AXIOM, and proprietary tools recovering text messages, photos, GPS history, app data, deleted content, and cloud backups — under documented chain of custody.

Tools Cellebrite / Magnet
Devices Mobile / PC / Cloud
Court-Ready Yes
Turnaround 3–7 days
Service Overview

Every artifact the device contains.

Cellebrite
Certified Forensic Laboratory

Modern litigation runs on digital evidence. Text messages, photos, location history, social media activity, app data, deleted content, and cloud backups frequently contain the most important facts in a case — and accessing that data in a way that holds up in court requires forensic-grade tools and certified examiners.

Valdes Investigation Group operates a full digital forensics laboratory in Miami staffed by Cellebrite and Magnet Forensics certified examiners. We extract data from iPhones, Android phones, Windows and macOS computers, tablets, smartwatches, and cloud accounts — under documented chain of custody from intake through final report.

Our extractions are used in family law, criminal defense, civil litigation, employment disputes, internal corporate investigations, and law enforcement matters. Reports are written for legal audiences, formatted for production in discovery, and supported by examiner testimony when cases proceed to trial.

What We Extract

Every recoverable artifact.

Our forensic extractions recover the full range of artifacts the device or cloud account contains — including data that has been deleted, hidden by the operating system, or stored in encrypted partitions.

Text Messages & Chats

SMS, MMS, iMessage, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Snapchat, Instagram DM, Facebook Messenger, Discord, and dozens more — including deleted messages and conversations purged from the visible interface.

Photos & Videos

Camera roll, deleted photos, screenshots, third-party app media, hidden photo albums, and cloud-synced media. Metadata recovery includes timestamps, GPS coordinates, and device fingerprints.

Location & GPS History

Apple Significant Locations, Google Location History, Maps activity, app-specific GPS data, and Wi-Fi connection logs reconstructing where the device has been and when.

Call & Contact Data

Call logs (including deleted), contact lists, voicemails, FaceTime history, recent contacts, and contact metadata showing relationships and interaction patterns.

App & Browser Data

Application-specific data from social media, dating apps, financial apps, ride-share apps, and any installed software. Browser history, bookmarks, downloads, and form auto-fill.

Cloud Account Extraction

iCloud, Google, Microsoft 365, Dropbox, and other cloud services — including data that exists only in the cloud and never lived on the device itself. Requires lawful access (account credentials or warrant).

Our Process

How we work.

A clear four-stage process from intake through final report. Updates throughout — no black-box investigations.

Step 01
Intake & Authority Verification

We confirm the legal basis for the extraction — owner consent, court order, employer device policy, or law enforcement authority. Every extraction has a documented authority basis; we do not perform extractions on devices without it.

Step 02
Forensic Acquisition

The device is imaged using Cellebrite UFED, Magnet AXIOM, or appropriate tool for the device class. Acquisition is performed in our Miami laboratory under examiner supervision with full chain of custody documentation.

Step 03
Targeted Analysis

Once the forensic image is captured, analysis targets the data classes relevant to the case — messages between specific parties, location history for specific date ranges, deleted content, app data for specific applications.

Step 04
Report & Production

Final report includes examiner declaration, methodology documentation, source artifact references, and the extracted data in formats suitable for discovery production (PDF, Excel, native files). Examiner is available for deposition and trial testimony.

Why Valdes

A real forensic laboratory in Miami.

Most data extraction work is performed by IT consultants who don't have forensic credentials, by mail-order extraction services that compromise chain of custody, or by retail repair shops without forensic tools. We are none of those.

  • 01
    Cellebrite and Magnet certified
    Our examiners hold current professional certifications on the two industry-standard forensic platforms — the same tools used by FBI, ICE, HSI, and state law enforcement nationwide. Certifications are renewed annually and verifiable.
  • 02
    Chain of custody from intake
    Every device is logged into evidence on receipt, sealed in tamper-evident packaging when not under examination, examined under documented procedure, and tracked through return. The forensic image is preserved for evidentiary integrity.
  • 03
    Court-tested examiners
    Our examiners have testified in state and federal court across Florida and other jurisdictions. They are credible expert witnesses with documented case history, current certifications, and the ability to explain forensic methodology to non-technical audiences.
  • 04
    In-house, not outsourced
    Many investigation agencies advertise digital forensics and then forward devices to third-party labs — fragmenting chain of custody and adding cost and delay. Our laboratory is in-house in Miami, with examiners on staff.

Forensic Capabilities

Mobile Forensic ToolsCellebrite UFED, Premium
Computer Forensic ToolsMagnet AXIOM
Cloud Forensic AccessiCloud, Google, M365
Device CoverageiOS, Android, Windows, macOS
Chain of CustodyDocumented Throughout
Examiner TestimonyState & Federal Courts
Typical Engagements

When extractions are required.

Family Law
Custody & Divorce Evidence

Text messages, photos, location history, and app data are routinely central to family law cases — establishing communication patterns, parental fitness concerns, infidelity, and asset disclosure.

Criminal Defense
Defense Examination of Devices

Defense counsel engaging our laboratory to examine devices in the client's possession — finding exculpatory evidence, reviewing prosecution extraction methodology, and testifying to forensic findings.

Civil Litigation
Discovery Extraction

Court-ordered or stipulated extractions in civil cases — employment disputes, business disputes, fraud claims. Extractions are produced in discovery format.

Internal Investigations
Corporate Device Examination

Employer-owned devices examined for policy violations, misappropriation, harassment, or termination evidence. Performed under documented employer authority.

Estate & Probate
Decedent Device Examination

Examination of a deceased person's devices for asset discovery, will and codicil identification, and family communications under court authority.

Law Enforcement Support
Agency Extraction Work

Contract extraction work for law enforcement agencies that don't maintain in-house mobile forensic capability, performed under warrant or consent.

Frequently Asked

Answers to common questions.

Can you recover deleted text messages?
Often, yes — within a window. When a message is 'deleted' on iPhone or Android, the underlying data typically remains in unallocated space on the device until it is overwritten by new data. Forensic tools can recover deleted messages from that unallocated space, sometimes for weeks or months after deletion. Recovery success depends on the device, the operating system version, encryption settings, and how much new activity has occurred since deletion. Cloud backups (iCloud, Google Drive) often retain deleted content for longer periods and can be a separate recovery target.
Do I need a court order to extract data from a device?
It depends on who owns the device and your relationship to it. For a device you own, you can authorize extraction yourself. For a device owned by a business and used by an employee, the employer can typically authorize extraction (subject to applicable employment law and any policy provisions). For a device owned by someone else, you typically need either their consent, a court order, or a recognized legal authority such as estate authority over a deceased person's device. We verify authority at intake and do not perform extractions without it.
How long does an extraction take?
The forensic acquisition itself takes 1 to 8 hours depending on the device — newer iPhones with large storage and full encryption take longer than older Android phones. Analysis and report preparation typically adds 2 to 5 business days for standard cases. Rush turnaround is available for active litigation matters. Cloud extractions vary widely based on account size and provider response times.
Will the device owner know I extracted their data?
If you have lawful authority to perform the extraction (you own the device, you have a court order, you have employer authority over a company device), there is no requirement to notify the user. The extraction itself does not alert the user unless we restore the device to them in a changed state. For covert examinations where the device must be returned without the user knowing — typically in marital surveillance contexts — extraction can be performed and the device returned in its original state.
Can extracted evidence be used in court?
Yes — that is the entire purpose. Our extractions are performed under documented chain of custody using court-recognized forensic tools by certified examiners. Reports are signed and dated, source artifacts are documented, and our examiners are available for deposition and trial testimony. We have testified in state and federal court across Florida and other jurisdictions in cases ranging from family law to federal criminal matters.
What's the difference between a logical and physical extraction?
Logical extraction pulls data through the device's operating system — what the OS will hand over through normal API access. It's fast and captures most current content. Physical (or 'full file system') extraction captures a much deeper image including system files, deleted content, and data the OS normally hides. Cellebrite Premium and similar tools enable physical extractions on supported devices. We use the appropriate method for the case — physical when deleted content matters, logical when only current content is in scope.
Can you extract data from a locked phone?
Sometimes. iOS and Android security have improved dramatically over the past decade, and a fully locked, fully updated current-generation device is genuinely difficult to access without the passcode. Older devices, older OS versions, devices with certain bootloader configurations, and devices that have been used recently in an unlocked state are easier. Cellebrite Premium supports access to many but not all locked devices. We assess feasibility before quoting and we are honest with you about likelihood of success.
How much does an extraction cost?
Standard mobile extractions range from $1,500 to $4,000 depending on device, scope, and report complexity. Computer forensic extractions range from $2,500 to $7,500. Locked-device acquisitions and large-scale matters (multiple devices, multi-account cloud) are quoted separately. We provide firm written pricing after intake — no open-ended retainers.

Need court-admissible data extraction?

Confidential intake, fast turnaround, and certified examiners who testify. Schedule a consultation to scope your extraction.

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