
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 28USC1741]

 
               TITLE 28--JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
 
                            PART V--PROCEDURE
 
                   CHAPTER 115--EVIDENCE; DOCUMENTARY
 
Sec. 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, 
Sec. 92(b), 63 Stat. 103; Pub. L. 88-619, Sec. 5(a), Oct. 3, 1964, 78 
Stat. 996.)


                      Historical and Revision Notes

                            1948 Act

    Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 695e (June 20, 1936, ch. 
640, Sec. 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''.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

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