Hearsay

The legal definition of hearsay is a statement made out of court that is offered in court as evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted. See Rule 801(c) of the Arizona Rules of Evidence. More simply, it’s going into court and telling the judge something someone else told you. In most court systems, the rules of evidence preclude hearsay evidence from being considered (unless an exception applies). In family court, under ARFLP Rule 2(b), hearsay is permitted unless someone invokes ARFLP Rule 2(a), which requires the Court to use all the Rules of Evidence, including the hearsay rules.