§ 834 Evidence

Here's a plain English summary:

When a family court case goes to a fact-finding hearing (where the judge decides what actually happened), only evidence that is competent, material, and relevant can be used. This means the evidence has to be reliable, connected to the real issues in the case, and actually matter to the decision. Judges won't allow things like rumors, unreliable claims, or facts that have nothing to do with the case.

When the case moves to a dispositional hearing (where the judge decides what happens next, like custody or services), the rules loosen up a bit. At this stage, evidence just needs to be material and relevant. It doesn't have to meet the stricter "competent" standard required earlier in the case.

In simple terms, this rule sets different standards for different parts of a family court case. The court is more careful about what evidence it allows when deciding the facts of the case. It has more flexibility later when deciding what outcome is best, since judges often need broader information at that point to make good decisions about a family's situation.