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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 Tennessee, as in other jurisdictions, evidence is crucial in legal proceedings to establish the truth of disputed facts. The state follows the Tennessee Rules of Evidence, which are similar to the Federal Rules of Evidence. These rules determine what evidence is admissible in court, meaning what can be presented to a judge or jury for consideration. 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 that the fact is of consequence in determining the action. Common forms of evidence include witness testimony, documents, contracts, email messages, photographs, medical bills, video footage, and audio recordings. Each piece of evidence must be authenticated and shown to be reliable to be admissible, and there are specific rules for different types of evidence. For example, hearsay, or statements made outside of the courtroom, is generally not admissible unless it falls under one of the many exceptions to the hearsay rule. The goal of these rules is to ensure that the evidence presented is fair and reliable to aid in the pursuit of justice.

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Civil procedure

evidence

Individual & Family Legal Plan

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Tennessee State Code

Tennessee State Code

Civil procedure

evidence

Articles