Rule 2:802 Hearsay Rule

Hearsay is an out-of-court statement that someone tries to use in court to prove something is true. For example, if a witness says "My friend told me the light was red," that friend's statement is hearsay.

Virginia courts generally do not allow hearsay as evidence. However, there are many exceptions to this rule. Other court rules, state laws, and prior court decisions all spell out specific situations where hearsay can be allowed.