“If it’s not in the chart, it didn’t happen.” This quote is a well-settled principle in nursing home litigation. This article stresses the importance of appropriate charting as the best risk-management tool a nursing home and long-term care facility can use to limit its exposure to potential claims. A well-documented and complete chart can be the nursing facility’s best defense against a resident’s claim. Within the article, we provide practical tips on how to avoid liability and provide good resident care by taking the time to create accurate and appropriate charts contemporaneous with care.