Rule 116.01 Record of Proceedings

Every word said during a hearing must be recorded. The court can use a court reporter, an audio or video recording device, or a mix of both, but there has to be a full record of the testimony.

When someone brings in evidence, like documents or physical items, that party is responsible for holding onto them after the hearing. The court can change this arrangement if it decides a different approach is needed, but the default rule puts that responsibility on whoever offered the evidence in the first place.

This matters because a complete record protects everyone involved. If a case is appealed later, or if there's ever a question about what was said or shown in court, this record and the preserved evidence are what everyone relies on to figure out what actually happened.