Why might a surveyor's records not be admissible as evidence in court?

A surveyor's records may not be admissible as evidence in court primarily because they are considered hearsay evidence. Hearsay refers to statements made outside of the court that are introduced to prove the truth of the matter asserted. In many legal contexts, hearsay is not allowed because the individual who made the statement is not present in court to be cross-examined, which may affect the reliability of the information.

In the context of surveying, while records may be generated based on the surveyor's observations and measurements, if the surveyor is not called to testify about the accuracy and method of obtaining that data, it can be deemed hearsay. Courts often require firsthand evidence or testimony to establish facts related to property boundaries or other survey-related issues. This ensures that the information presented is credible and subject to scrutiny.

While factors like being outdated, lacking notarization, or being incomplete also impact the overall reliability and acceptance of certain records, they do not inherently disqualify records from being used as evidence as strongly as the concept of hearsay does. The hearsay rule serves as a critical barrier that impacts the admissibility of records in court proceedings.