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Civil procedure

evidence

Evidence is anything that tends to prove or disprove a material or relevant fact alleged in a lawsuit or other legal proceeding. Witness testimony, documents, contracts, email messages, photographs, medical bills, video images, and voice recordings are common pieces of evidence.

In Massachusetts, evidence is regulated by both state statutes and the Massachusetts Guide to Evidence. This guide is similar to the Federal Rules of Evidence and is used by courts to determine what evidence is admissible in legal proceedings. Evidence must be relevant, meaning it must have any tendency to make a fact more or less probable than it would be without the evidence, and the fact must be of consequence in determining the action. Common forms of evidence include witness testimony, documents, contracts, email messages, photographs, medical bills, video images, and voice recordings. The admissibility of such evidence is subject to various rules regarding authenticity, reliability, and the absence of hearsay, unless an exception applies. Additionally, evidence must not be overly prejudicial, confusing, a waste of time, or misleading to the jury. In Massachusetts, the rules of evidence are designed to ensure that the fact-finding process is fair and efficient, and that the evidence presented is sufficiently reliable to assist in the determination of the truth.

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Civil procedure

evidence

Individual & Family Legal Plan

Articles

Massachusetts State Code

Massachusetts State Code

Civil procedure

evidence

Articles