1002 Requirement of original

If you want to prove what a document, recording, or photo actually says or shows, you generally need to bring the real, original version to court. You can't just describe it or tell the court what you remember it saying. This is often called the "best evidence rule."

There are exceptions built into other court rules and laws. In some situations, copies or other evidence about the content may be allowed instead of the original. But unless one of those exceptions applies, the original is what the court expects to see.

This rule matters because it stops people from misquoting or misrepresenting documents, recordings, or photos. It keeps evidence accurate by requiring the actual item whenever possible, rather than relying on someone's summary or memory of it.