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Simple English definitions for legal terms

ancient document rule

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A quick definition of ancient document rule:

The ancient document rule is a way to prove that a document is real and can be used as evidence in court. If a document is more than 20 years old, looks normal, and is found in a place where it should be, then it is considered real and can be used in court. This rule also applies to old documents that have information that someone said but are not in court to say it themselves. However, the document must be proven to be real and made before 1998 to be used in court.

A more thorough explanation:

The ancient document rule is a way to prove the authenticity of evidence in court. According to this rule, if a document is:

  1. More than 20 years old
  2. Looks normal and hasn't been changed
  3. Found in a place where it would be expected to be found

Then the document is considered to be authentic and can be used as evidence in court.

For example, let's say a lawyer wants to use a letter that was written by someone who has since passed away. If the letter is more than 20 years old, looks normal, and was found in a place where it would be expected to be found (like in the person's old desk), then it can be used as evidence in court.

The ancient document rule can also be used as a hearsay exception under Federal Rule of Evidence 803 (16). This means that if a document is more than 20 years old and was created before 1998, it can be used as evidence even if it contains hearsay (secondhand information).

For example, let's say a lawyer wants to use a diary entry from someone who has since passed away. If the diary entry is more than 20 years old, was created before 1998, and was found in a place where it would be expected to be found (like in the person's old bedroom), then it can be used as evidence in court even if it contains hearsay.

Overall, the ancient document rule is a way to prove the authenticity of old documents in court, making them admissible as evidence.

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MIAMI A
[] AromaticTroubledDormouse
20:55
How does one know if they are UR1 or UR2?
[] AromaticTroubledDormouse
20:56
CONGRATS MACAQUE!
TY
got a random stanford email and almost had a heart attack
ALSO CONGRATS!
Congrats1!
21:15
Miami A, yall I'm so excited I could cry.
21:15
Feel like I can finally stop holding my breath!! Whew!!!
[] baddestbunny
22:16
every time I get accosted by a strange man who follows me around because my male coworkers were too busy talking to walk me back to my car I get closer to saying we need to bring back traditional gender roles
Dkk
22:32
Nice! @Macaque
Dkk
22:32
@Aromatic, Have to guess.
Dkk
22:33
That sucks @Bunny do you have to go to the hospital?
[] baddestbunny
22:40
I said accosted not assaulted
23:35
guys. my notre dame address just went long is this good or bad
1a2b3c4d26z
23:37
Oooooo me too
23:37
omg is this good or bad
Dkk
23:47
Idk if gender roles are gunna fix that then.
23:49
it looks like most people who applied in october last cycle didn't get a decision until january... does it even mean anything that our addresses went long??
hows ED 2 compared to ED 1?
Dkk
0:10
No idea
windyMagician
0:34
reporting live to say my ndls address also went long
does it mean anything ^
Dkk
2:21
NDLS and Fordham took a very long time last year. It's good info for people to know.
[] baddestbunny
4:29
let’s get after it boys and girls
Dkk
5:21
I gtg to bed soon.
Dkk
5:22
Big day today. Gunna be a crazy one. I will sleep through the first half.
good morning lsd it is 5 am EST
also jazzy my ndls address went long ages ago i sadly do not think it means anything
my stanford address also went long LOL i think at most it's an indicator it's under review
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