Records literacy
Evidence literacy: questions, not guarantees
A source-verified educational article. It does not direct a filing or decide an individual matter.
Recognize evidence questions
Documents concerning names, amounts, dates, ownership, assignments, authentication, and witness knowledge can be relevant in a contested record. The importance of a particular document depends on the claim, procedure, rule, and proof offered.
Separate a question from a conclusion
It is reasonable to ask what a document is, who created it, what date it reflects, and how it relates to other records. It is not accurate to convert a generic question into a promise that a claim fails.
Read the rule of evidence itself
Ohio’s Rules of Evidence provide the vocabulary for authenticity, hearsay, and business records. They do not create a universal checklist for a public website to apply to an unknown record. [1]