Document as evidence?

Question

How can a witness offer a document asd evidence and what is the law that governs the admission of document?

Answer 1

Witnesses usually don't offer evidence. The attorneys representing the parties to the lawsuit do that. If you're a witness and you have a document that lends credibility to something about which you are to testify, tell the attorney representing the party for whom you are a witness. There are specific rules of evidence that govern how that document will be introduced.

Answer 2

Some documents are easily admissible under the Uniform Business Documents as Evidence Act. It has been enacted in many states, including California, Minnesota, Vermont, Missouri, and Washington.

Pennsylvania Rules regarding documents as evidence are found here: http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/225/chapter10/chap10toc.html

Under Rule 901 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, the witness is really authenticating and identifying the document. http://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/rules.htm#Rule901