Concepts that apply broadly; check your own jurisdiction.
After a judgment, a party can ask the trial court to change it before or instead of appealing. This guide explains the main post-trial motions under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 50, 59 and 60 and their deadlines.
In federal court, a party usually may appeal only after the case ends in a final judgment. This guide explains the final judgment rule, partial judgments, interlocutory appeals and the collateral order doctrine.
The burden of proof tells the factfinder how sure it must be before ruling for the party who bears it. This guide explains the three main burdens of proof and where each applies.
A privilege lets a person refuse to disclose certain confidential communications, even if they are relevant. This guide explains how evidentiary privileges work in federal court, the attorney-client privilege and inadvertent disclosure.
Witnesses testify from personal knowledge, while experts may give opinions if their methods are reliable. This guide explains witness competency, personal knowledge and expert testimony under Rule 702 and Daubert.
Before a document, photo or recording can be admitted, the party offering it must show it is what it claims to be. This guide explains authentication, self-authenticating records and the best evidence rule.
Hearsay is an out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of what it says. This guide explains the hearsay rule, the statements that are not hearsay, the main exceptions and the Confrontation Clause.
The Federal Rules of Evidence decide what proof a federal court may consider. This guide explains relevance under the Federal Rules of Evidence and when a court may exclude relevant evidence.
When parties disagree about what a written contract means, courts apply rules of interpretation and the parol evidence rule. This guide explains how courts read contracts and when earlier or outside agreements can be considered.
Contracts for the sale of goods follow Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code rather than the general common law of contracts. This guide explains what counts as goods, how Article 2 contracts form, the warranties and the perfect tender rule.
Looking for a state's court rules instead? See procedures for all 50 states and D.C.