Hearsay is a statement that (1) the person making it (the declarant) does not make while testifying at the current trial or hearing (in other words, the statement is made out of court); and (2) a party offers as evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted in the statement.

Hearsay is generally not admissible as evidence—but there are many exceptions to hearsay, and statements that are non-hearsay. The law governing hearsay is usually located in the applicable state or federal rules of evidence, which are interpreted and applied by courts in court opinions or cases.

In New Hampshire, hearsay is addressed under the New Hampshire Rules of Evidence, specifically Rule 801 which defines hearsay and Rule 802 which generally prohibits the admission of hearsay evidence in court proceedings. Hearsay is an out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted and is typically not admissible because the declarant is not present to be cross-examined. However, there are numerous exceptions to this rule, as outlined in Rule 803 and Rule 804 of the New Hampshire Rules of Evidence, which allow for the admission of certain hearsay statements under specific circumstances. These exceptions include, but are not limited to, statements made under the belief of impending death, statements against interest, and certain statements of personal or family history. Additionally, some statements are defined as non-hearsay, such as a declarant's prior statement if the declarant testifies at the current trial or hearing and is subject to cross-examination. The application of hearsay rules can be complex, and an attorney can provide guidance on whether a particular statement may be admissible in court.