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Michigan Rules of Evidence – 2026

The Michigan Rules of Evidence govern the admissibility of evidence in Michigan courts. Modeled on the Federal Rules of Evidence, they establish standards for the admissibility of testimony, documents, and other evidence in civil and criminal proceedings, with Michigan-specific provisions including MRE 202 on judicial notice of law.

Browse all 65 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

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RULES 101–106 RULES 201–202 RULES 301–302 RULES 401–411 RULE 501 RULES 601–615 RULES 701–707 RULES 801–807 RULES 901–903 RULES 1001–1008 RULES 1101–1102

RULES 101–106

Rule 101 Scope; Definitions Rule 102 Purpose Rule 103 Rulings on Evidence Rule 104 Preliminary Questions Rule 105 Limiting Evidence That is Not Admissible Against Other Parties or for Other Rule 106 Remainder of or Related Writings or Recorded Statements

RULES 201–202

Rule 201 Judicial Notice of Adjudicative Facts Rule 202 Judicial Notice of Law

RULES 301–302

Rule 301 Presumptions in Civil Cases Rule 302 Presumptions in Criminal Cases

RULES 401–411

Rule 401 Test for Relevant Evidence Rule 402 General Admissibility of Relevant Evidence Rule 403 Excluding Relevant Evidence for Prejudice, Confusion, Waste of Time, or Other Rule 404 Character Evidence; Other Crimes, Wrongs, or Acts Rule 405 Methods of Proving Character Rule 406 Habit; Routine Practice Rule 407 Subsequent Remedial Measures Rule 408 Compromise Offers and Negotiations Rule 409 Offers to Pay Medical and Similar Expenses Rule 410 Pleas, Plea Discussions, and Related Statements Rule 411 Liability Insurance

RULE 501

Rule 501 Privilege in General

RULES 601–615

Rule 601 Competency to Testify in General Rule 602 Need for Personal Knowledge Rule 603 Oath or Affirmation to Testify Truthfully Rule 604 Interpreter Rule 605 Judge’s Competency as a Witness Rule 606 Juror’s Competency as a Witness Rule 607 Who May Impeach a Witness Rule 608 A Witness’s Character for Truthfulness or Untruthfulness Rule 609 Impeachment by Evidence of a Criminal Conviction Rule 610 Religious Beliefs or Opinions Rule 611 Mode and Order of Examining Witnesses and Presenting Evidence Rule 612 Writing or Object Used to Refresh a Witness’s Memory Rule 613 Witness’s Prior Statement Rule 614 Court’s Calling or Examining a Witness Rule 615 Excluding Witnesses

RULES 701–707

Rule 701 Opinion Testimony by Lay Witnesses Rule 702 Testimony by Expert Witnesses Rule 703 Bases of an Expert’s Opinion Testimony Rule 704 Opinion on an Ultimate Issue Rule 705 Disclosing the Facts or Data Underlying an Expert’s Opinion Rule 706 Court-Appointed Expert Witnesses Rule 707 Use of Learned Treatises for Impeachment

RULES 801–807

Rule 801 Definitions That Apply to Rules 801–807; Exclusions from Hearsay Rule 802 The Rule Against Hearsay Rule 803 Exceptions to the Rule Against Hearsay Rule 803A Hearsay Exception; Child’s Statement About a Sexual Act Rule 804 Exceptions to the Rule Against Hearsay–When the Declarant is Unavailable as a Witness Rule 805 Hearsay Within Hearsay Rule 806 Attacking and Supporting the Declarant Rule 807 Residual Exception

RULES 901–903

Rule 901 Authenticating or Identifying Evidence Rule 902 Evidence That Is Self-Authenticating Rule 903 Subscribing Witness

RULES 1001–1008

Rule 1001 Definitions That Apply to Rules 1001–1008 Rule 1002 Requirement of the Original Rule 1003 Admissibility of Duplicates Rule 1004 Admissibility of Other Evidence of Content Rule 1005 Copies of Public Records to Prove Content Rule 1006 Summaries to Prove Content Rule 1007 Testimony or Statement of a Party to Prove Content Rule 1008 Functions of the Court and Jury

RULES 1101–1102

Rule 1101 Applicability of the Rules Rule 1102 Title

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the Michigan Rules of Evidence cover and when do they apply?
The Michigan Rules of Evidence (MRE) set the standards for what testimony, documents, and other materials can be admitted in Michigan court proceedings. They apply in both civil and criminal cases heard in Michigan courts, covering everything from how witnesses may testify to how hearsay is handled to what records qualify as business documents.
How do the Michigan Rules of Evidence compare to the Federal Rules of Evidence?
The MRE are closely modeled on the Federal Rules of Evidence, so lawyers familiar with federal practice will recognize much of the structure and language. However, Michigan has its own specific provisions, such as MRE 202, which addresses judicial notice of law in ways that differ from the federal approach, so it is always worth checking the Michigan version directly rather than assuming the rules are identical.
Where in the MRE can I find rules about hearsay and its exceptions?
Hearsay is addressed in Article VIII of the MRE, which spans roughly a dozen rules covering the definition of hearsay, exemptions, and the many recognized exceptions such as excited utterances, business records, and statements for medical diagnosis. If you are researching whether a particular out-of-court statement might be admissible, Article VIII is the place to start.