§ 40.560 Rule 1003. Admissibility of duplicates

Copies of documents can generally be used in court just like the original document. This means a photocopy, scan, or similar reproduction has the same value as the real thing in most cases.

There are two situations where a copy won't be allowed to stand in for the original. First, if someone raises a real doubt about whether the original document is genuine, the copy may not be good enough. Second, if using a copy instead of the original would be unfair given the specific situation, the court can require the original instead.

In practice, this rule saves time and hassle for everyday cases. You don't need to track down an original contract or letter if a copy works just as well. But if there's a real dispute about whether a document is fake or has been altered, courts will want to see the actual original before deciding what to do with it.