Outline of evidence law in the United States

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to evidence law in the United States:

Evidence law in the United States – sets forth the areas of contention that generally arise in the presentation of evidence in trial proceedings in the U.S.

• Relevance
• Public policy doctrines for the exclusion of relevant evidence
• Burden of proof

• Testimony
  • Laying a foundation
  • Eyewitness identification
  • Character evidence
  • Habit evidence
  • Similar fact evidence
• Documentary evidence
  • Authentication
  • Best evidence rule
  • Self-authenticating documents
  • Ancient documents
  • Parol evidence rule
• Physical evidence
  • Chain of custody
• Real evidence
• Digital evidence
• Exculpatory evidence
• Scientific evidence
  • Genetic (DNA)
• Demonstrative evidence
• Lies

• Judicial notice

• Witnesses
  • Competence
  • Dead man statute
• Direct examination
• Cross-examination
• Witness impeachment
• Recorded recollection
• Expert witnesses

Privilege

• Hearsay in English law
• Hearsay in United States law
• Confessions
• Business records exception
• Excited utterance
• Dying declaration
• Party admission
• Ancient documents
• Declarations against interest
• Present sense impression
• Res gestae
• Learned treatise
• Implied assertion

• Outline of law

• Federal Rules of Evidence Online