How is an affidavit from a public official stating that no records were found treated in court?

An affidavit from a public official stating that no records were found is treated as admissible as a public record in court. This is based on the principle that documents generated by public officials in the course of their official duties, particularly those that pertain to the existence or non-existence of records, are typically recognized as reliable and trustworthy evidence.

Public records include any records made by government agencies, which often benefit from a presumption of regularity and accuracy. The public records exception to the hearsay rule allows these documents, or statements contained within them, to be admitted without needing to meet the typical standards of hearsay.

The affiant's declaration of no records found is an important aspect of establishing a fact that may impact legal proceedings, such as in cases involving claims of lost documents or absence of evidence. By obtaining and presenting this affidavit, parties can effectively support their case with evidence that is specifically sanctioned by legal standards for reliability.