Rule 1005 Public records; contents, how proved.

If you need to prove what's in a public record, like a deed, court file, or government document, you don't have to bring the original to court. You can use a copy instead, as long as that copy is certified as accurate or a witness confirms they compared it to the original and it matches.

This rule makes sense because original public records often need to stay where they're kept, like in a courthouse or government office. Instead of removing them, you can get an official certified copy or have someone verify the copy is accurate.

If you can't get a proper certified or verified copy even after trying hard to get one, the rule still lets you prove what the record says using other evidence. This means you're not stuck just because a certified copy wasn't available.