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LSDefine
Simple English definitions for legal terms
personal knowledge
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A quick definition of personal knowledge:
Personal knowledge is what you know from your own experience or observation, not just what someone else has told you. It's like when you see a bird flying in the sky and you know it's a bird because you've seen birds before, not because someone told you it was a bird. This kind of knowledge is important in court cases and when people need to prove something is true.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Personal knowledge is knowledge gained through firsthand observation or experience, as distinguished from a belief based on what someone else has said.
For example, if someone tells you that it's raining outside, you may believe them, but you don't have personal knowledge of the rain unless you go outside and experience it for yourself. Personal knowledge is important in many areas of life, including law and science.
In law, personal knowledge is often required for witnesses to testify about a matter. Rule 602 of the Federal Rules of Evidence requires lay witnesses to have personal knowledge of the matters they testify about. An affidavit must also be based on personal knowledge, unless the affiant makes it clear that a statement relies on "information and belief."
In science, personal knowledge is important for researchers to gather data and draw conclusions. Personal knowledge can come from firsthand observation or experience, such as conducting experiments or making observations in the field.