Fed. R. Evid. 1005

Copies of Public Records to Prove Content

The proponent may use a copy to prove the content of an official record—or of a document that was recorded or filed in a public office as authorized by law—if these conditions are met: the record or document is otherwise admissible; and the copy is certified as correct in accordance with Rule 902(4) or is testified to be correct by a witness who has compared it with the original. If no such copy can be obtained by reasonable diligence, then the proponent may use other evidence to prove the content.

( Pub. L. 93–595, § 1 , Jan. 2, 1975 , 88 Stat. 1946 ; Apr. 26, 2011 , eff. Dec. 1, 2011 .)