Words in s. 8(2) substituted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), ss. 261(2), 263, Sch. 28 para. 55(1)(2); S.S.I. 2005/604, art. 2(a)(c)
Words in s. 8(2) repealed (4.5.2006) by Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp. 3), ss. 45(2), 46(2), sch. 3; S.S.I. 2006/212, art. 2 (with art. 12)
S. 8(3A) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), ss. 261(2), 263, Sch. 28 para. 55(1)(3); S.S.I. 2005/604, art. 2(a)(c)
Words in s. 8(4) inserted (5.12.2005) by Civil Partnership Act 2004 (c. 33), ss. 261(2), 263, Sch. 28 para. 55(1)(4); S.S.I. 2005/604, art. 2(a)(c)
Words in s. 9(a) repealed (1.4.1997) by 1995 c. 36, s. 105(4)(5), Sch. 4 para. 44(a), Sch. 5 (with s. 103(1)); S.I. 1996/3201, art. 3(7) (as amended by S.I. 1997/744, arts. 2, 3)
Words in s. 9(a) inserted (1.4.1997) by 1995 c. 36, S. 105(4), Sch. 4 para. 44 (b) (with s. 103(1)); S.I. 1996/3201, art. 3(7) (as amended by S.I. 1997/744, arts. 2, 3)
Words in s. 9(a) inserted (1.4.1997) by 1995 c. 36, s. 105(4), Sch. 4 para. 44(c) (with s. 103(1)); S.I. 1996/3201, art. 3(7) (as amended by S.I. 1997/744, arts. 2, 3)
Words in s. 9(a) inserted (1.4.1997) by 1995 c. 36, s. 105(4), Sch. 4 para. 44(d) (with s. 103(1)); S.I. 1996/3201, art. 3(7) (as amended by S.I. 1997/744, arts. 2, 3)
Words in S. 9(a) substituted (1.4.1997) by 1995 c. 36, s. 105(4), Sch. 4 para. 44 (e)(with s. 103(1)); S.I. 1996/3201, art. 3(7) (as amended by S.I. 1997/744, arts. 2, 3)
S. 8: certain functions transferred (19.5.1999) by 1999/678, art. 2(1), Sch.
S. 8(3) excluded by S.I. 1989/582, art. 3
S. 11(2) power of appointment fully exercised: 3.4.1989 appointed by S.I. 1989/556
In any civil proceedings the court or, as the case may be, the jury, if satisfied that any fact has been established by evidence in those proceedings, shall be entitled to find that fact proved by that evidence notwithstanding that the evidence is not corroborated.
Any rule of law whereby any evidence may be taken to be corroborated by a false denial shall cease to have effect.
In any civil proceedings—
evidence shall not be excluded solely on the ground that it is hearsay;
a statement made by a person otherwise than in the course of the proof shall be admissible as evidence of any matter contained in the statement of which direct oral evidence by that person would be admissible; and
the court, or as the case may be the jury, if satisfied that any fact has been established by evidence in those proceedings, shall be entitled to find that fact proved by the evidence notwithstanding that the evidence is hearsay.
Nothing in this section shall affect the admissibility of any statement as evidence of the fact that the statement was made.
In paragraph (e) of section 5 of the Court of Session Act 1988 (power to make provision as regards the Court of Session for admission of written statements etc. in lieu of parole evidence), for the words “the admission in lieu of parole evidence of written statements (including affidavits) and reports, on such conditions as may be prescribed” there shall be substituted the words “written statements (including affidavits) and reports, admissible under section 2(1)(b) of the Civil Evidence (Scotland) Act 1988, to be received in evidence, on such conditions as may be prescribed, without being spoken to by a witness”.
providing in respect of any category of civil proceedings for written statements (including affidavits) and reports, admissible under section 2(1)(b) of the Civil Evidence (Scotland) Act 1988, to be received in evidence, on such conditions as may be prescribed, without being spoken to by a witness;
In any civil proceedings a statement made otherwise than in the course of the proof by a person who at the proof is examined as to the statement shall be admissible as evidence in so far as it tends to reflect favourably or unfavourably on that person’s credibility.
For the purposes of section 2 or 3 above, any person may at the proof, with leave of the court, at any time before the commencement of closing submissions—
be recalled as a witness whether or not he has been present in court since giving evidence initially; or
be called as an additional witness whether or not he has been present in court during the proof (or during any other part of the proceedings).
Nothing in section 3 of the
Unless the court otherwise directs, a document may in any civil proceedings be taken to form part of the records of a business or undertaking if it is certified as such by a docquet purporting to be signed by an officer of the business or undertaking to which the records belong; and a statement contained in any document certified as aforesaid may be received in evidence without being spoken to by a witness.
For the purposes of this section, a facsimile of a signature shall be treated as a signature.
For the purposes of any civil proceedings, a copy of a document, purporting to be authenticated by a person responsible for the making of the copy, shall, unless the court otherwise directs, be—
deemed a true copy; and
treated for evidential purposes as if it were the document itself.
In subsection (1) above, “
Sections 3 to 5 of the
In any civil proceedings, the evidence of an officer of a business or undertaking that any particular statement is not contained in the records of the business or undertaking shall be admissible as evidence of that fact whether or not the whole or any part of the records have been produced in the proceedings.
The evidence referred to in subsection (1) above may, unless the court otherwise directs, be given by means of the affidavit of the officer.
In section 6 of the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act 1879 (case in which banker not compellable to produce book), after the word “Act” there shall be inserted the words “or under the Civil Evidence (Scotland) Act 1988”.
In any action to which this subsection applies (whether or not appearance has been entered for the defender), no decree or judgment in favour of the pursuer shall be pronounced until the grounds of action have been established by evidence.
Subsection (1) above applies to actions for divorce,
Subject to subsection (4) below, in any action for divorce, separation or declarator of marriage or nullity of marriage, the evidence referred to in subsection (1) above shall consist of or include evidence other than that of a party to the marriage (or alleged or purported marriage).
Subject to subsection (4) below, in any action for dissolution of civil partnership, separation of civil partners or declarator of nullity of civil partnership, the evidence referred to in subsection (1) above shall consist of or include evidence other than that of a partner in the civil partnership (or purported civil partnership).
The Lord Advocate may by order made by statutory instrument provide that subsection (3)
No order shall be made under this section unless a draft of the order has been laid before Parliament and has been approved by resolution of each House.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
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any hearing by the sheriff
any arbitration, whether or not under an enactment, except in so far as, in relation to the conduct of the arbitration, specific provision has been made as regards the rules of evidence which are to apply;
any proceedings before a tribunal or inquiry, except in so far as, in relation to the conduct of proceedings before the tribunal or inquiry, specific provision has been made as regards the rules of evidence which are to apply; and
any other proceedings conducted wholly or mainly in accordance with rules of procedure agreed between the parties themselves (or as respects which it would have been open to them to agree such rules had they wished to do so) except in so far as any such agreement makes specific provision as regards the rules of evidence which are to apply;
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any map, plan, graph or drawing;
any photograph;
any disc, tape, sound track or other device in which sounds or other data (not being visual images) are recorded so as to be capable (with or without the aid of some other equipment) of being reproduced therefrom; and
any film, negative, tape or other device in which one or more visual images are recorded so as to be capable (as aforesaid) of being reproduced therefrom;
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The enactments specified in columns 1 and 2 of the Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in column 3 of the Schedule.
This Act shall apply to proceedings whether commenced before or after the date of its coming into force (but not to proceedings in which proof commenced before that date).
Nothing in this Act shall affect the operation of the following enactments—
section 2 of the
section 2 of the
section 1 of the
section 1 of the
section 5 of the
This Act may be cited as the Civil Evidence (Scotland) Act 1988.
This Act shall come into force on such day as the Lord Advocate may by order made by statutory instrument appoint.
This Act shall extend to Scotland only.