Art. 1002 Requirement of original

If you want to prove what's written in a document, recorded on tape, or shown in a photo, you generally need to bring the actual original to court. You can't just describe it or tell the court what it said. A copy or a secondhand account normally won't be enough on its own.

This is often called the "best evidence rule." The idea behind it is simple: originals are more reliable than copies or descriptions. Copies can be altered, incomplete, or wrong, and the court wants to avoid arguments over whether a copy accurately reflects the original.

That said, this rule has exceptions. Other parts of the law allow copies or other proof of content in certain situations, like when the original is lost, destroyed, or not available for a good reason. So while the original is usually required, it's not an absolute requirement in every case.