Rule 116.02 Rules of Evidence

When a juvenile or family court holds a hearing to decide whether the claims in a petition or motion to modify are true, the judge has to follow the normal rules of evidence. This means the same evidence standards used in other courtrooms also apply here. Witnesses, documents, and other proof must meet these standards before the judge can consider them.

This matters because it protects everyone involved in the case. Parents, kids, and other parties can count on the same fair process used in other legal proceedings. It also means lawyers on both sides need to follow proper procedures when presenting evidence, objecting to evidence, or questioning witnesses during these hearings.