§1741. Foreign official documents

An official record or document of a foreign country may be evidenced by a copy, summary, or excerpt authenticated as provided in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 948 ; May 24, 1949, ch. 139, §92(b), 63 Stat. 103 ; Pub. L. 88–619, §5(a), Oct. 3, 1964, 78 Stat. 996 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

1948 Act

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §695e (June 20, 1936, ch. 640, §6, 49 Stat. 1563 ).

Words "Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to alter, amend, or repeal section 689 of this title," at the end of section 695e of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., were omitted. Although significant in the original Act, such words are unnecessary in a revision wherein both sections in question, as revised, are enacted at the same time.

See also Rule 44 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Section 695e–1 of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., providing for certification of Vatican City Documents will be incorporated in title 22, U.S.C., Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Changes were made in phraseology.

1949 Act

This section corrects a typographical error in section 1741 of title 28, U.S.C.

Amendments

1964-Pub. L. 88–619 substituted "An official record or document of a foreign country may be evidenced by a copy, summary, or excerpt authenticated as provided in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure" for "A copy of any foreign document of record or on file in a public office of a foreign country or political subdivision thereof, certified by the lawful custodian thereof, shall be admissible in evidence when authenticated by a certificate of a consular officer of the United States resident in such foreign country, under the seal of his office, that the copy has been certified by the lawful custodian" in text, and "official documents" for "documents, generally; copies" in section catchline.

1949-Act May 24, 1949, corrected spelling of "admissible".

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

Authentication of copy of official record, see rule 44 Appendix to this title.

Effect of rule 44 on former section 695e of this title, see note by Advisory Committee under rule 44.

Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure

Criminal cases, proof of official record, see rule 27, Title 18, Appendix, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in title 22 sections 1204, 4222.