Vermont Rules of Evidence – 2026

FRE-modeled evidence rules applying across all divisions of the Superior Court. Rule 702 carries the federal reliability elements, and Rule 106 was amended in 2025 to follow the parallel federal amendment.

Last updated September 06, 2026

Browse all 80 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

Article I. General Provisions

Rule 101 Scope Rule 102 Purpose and Construction Rule 103 Rulings on Evidence Rule 104 Preliminary Questions Rule 105 Limited Admissibility Rule 106 Remainder of or Related Writings or Recorded Statements

Article II. Judicial Notice

Rule 201 Judicial Notice of Adjudicative Facts

Article III. Presumptions

Rule 301 Presumptions in Civil Cases Rule 302 [Reserved.] Rule 303 Presumptions in Criminal Cases

Article IV. Relevancy and Its Limits

Rule 401 Definition of “Relevant Evidence” Rule 402 Relevant Evidence Generally Admissible; Irrelevant Evidence Inadmissible Rule 403 Exclusion of Relevant Evidence on Grounds of Prejudice, Confusion, or Waste of Time Rule 404 Character Evidence Not Admissible to Prove Conduct; Exceptions; Other Crimes, Wrongs or Acts Rule 405 Methods of Proving Character Rule 406 Habit; Routine Practice Rule 407 Subsequent Remedial Measures Rule 408 Compromise and Offers to Compromise Rule 409 Payment of Medical and Similar Expenses Rule 410 Inadmissibility of Pleas, Plea Discussions, and Related Statements Rule 411 Liability Insurance Rule 412 Inadmissibility of Statements Made by Ward to Guardian Ad Litem Art. IV Article IV. Relevancy and Its Limits

Article IX. Authentication and Identification

Rule 901 Requirement of Authentication or Identification Rule 902 Self-authentication Rule 903 Subscribing Witness' Testimony Unnecessary

Article V. Privileges

Rule 501 Privileges Recognized Only as Provided; Statutory Privileges Rule 502 Lawyer-client Privilege Rule 503 Patient's Privilege Rule 504 Spousal Privilege Rule 505 Religious Privilege Rule 506 [Reserved.] Rule 507 [Reserved.] Rule 508 [Reserved.] Rule 509 Identity of Informant Rule 510 Waiver of Privilege and Work-product by Disclosure Rule 511 Privileged Matter Disclosed Under Compulsion or Without Opportunity to Claim Privilege Rule 512 Comment Upon or Inference from Claim of Privilege: Instruction Art. V Article V. Privileges

Article VI. Witnesses

Rule 601 Competency in General: Disqualification Rule 602 Lack of Personal Knowledge Rule 603 Oath or Affirmation Rule 604 Interpreters Rule 605 Competency of Judge as Witness Rule 606 Competency of Juror as Witness Rule 607 Who May Impeach Rule 608 Evidence of Character and Conduct of Witness Rule 609 Impeachment by Evidence of Conviction of Crime Rule 610 Religious Beliefs or Opinions Rule 611 Mode and Order of Interrogation and Presentation Rule 612 Writing or Object Used to Refresh Memory Rule 613 Prior Statements of Witness Rule 614 Calling and Interrogation of Witnesses by Court Rule 615 EXCLUSION OF WITNESSES [Effective until July 1, 2026]

Article VII. Opinions and Expert Testimony

Rule 701 Opinion Testimony by Lay Witness Rule 702 Testimony by Experts Rule 703 Factual Bases of Opinion Testimony by Experts Rule 704 Opinion on Ultimate Issue Rule 705 Disclosure of Facts or Data Underlying Expert Opinion Rule 706 Court Appointed Experts

Article VIII. Hearsay

Rule 801 Definitions Rule 802 Hearsay Rule Rule 803 Hearsay Exceptions: Availability of Declarant Immaterial Rule 804 Hearsay Exceptions: Declarant Unavailable Rule 804a Hearsay Exception; Putative Victim Age 12 or Under; Person with a Mental Illness or an Intellectual or Developmental Disability Rule 805 Hearsay Within Hearsay Rule 806 Attacking and Supporting Credibility of Declarant Rule 807 Testimony Where Victim Is a Minor or a Person with a Mental Illness, or an Intellectual or Developmental Disability Art. VIII Article VIII. Hearsay

Article X. Contents of Writings, Recordings, and Photographs

Rule 1001 Definitions Rule 1002 Requirement of Original Rule 1003 Admissibility of Duplicates Rule 1004 Admissibility of Other Evidence of Contents Rule 1005 Public Records Rule 1006 Summaries Rule 1007 Testimony or Written Admission of Party Rule 1008 Functions of Court and Jury

Article XI. Miscellaneous Rules

Rule 1101 Applicability of Rules Rule 1102 Effective Date Rule 1103 Title