Rule 11-1002 Requirement of the original.

If you want to prove what a document, recording, or photo says, you generally need to bring the actual original to court. Courts prefer originals because they are the most reliable proof of what the content really is.

That said, this isn't an absolute requirement. Other rules or laws can allow copies or other evidence to be used instead, especially when the original is lost, destroyed, or hard to get. So while the basic rule favors originals, there are exceptions that let people use copies or other proof in certain situations.

For anyone dealing with a case, this means you should try to keep and use original documents, recordings, or photos whenever possible. If you only have a copy, be prepared to explain why the original isn't available, since the court may ask about this before accepting the copy as evidence.