contract-law evidence rules-of-court binding
Are editable word documents (&#39;.docx&#39; files) accepted in court as evidence?
<p>I keep most of my business documents in Microsoft Words (.docx) file format. Problem is these documents can be edited and tampered with. For my signatures, I just copy and paste a signature image onto the file.</p>

<p>Question, will these documents hold in the court of law? If yes, what prevents someone from altering the contents of the document?</p>

<h2>Whether they are admissible as evidence is up to the trier of law</h2>

<p>The “trier of law” (judge) decides what evidence is admissible according to the rules of evidence.</p>

<p>Documents of most kinds are not admissible on their own (exceptions include “business” documents like invoices and receipts). To be admissible, someone (presumably you) has to testify as to what they are, how they were created and maintained and why they are relevant before the judge will decide if they will be accepted as evidence.</p>

<h2>Whether they prove anything is up to the trier of fact</h2>

<p><strong>Evidence is not proof</strong></p>

<p>The “trier of fact” (jury in a jury trial, judge in a bench trial) decides what weight to give to any and all evidence presented. They may accept the testimony about the documents or they may reject it. If presented with conflicting testimony they have to decide which they prefer. Judges have to give reasons for their decisions which can be appealed. Juries don’t. </p>

<p>Files that are readily changeable are likely to be given less weight than files which have a verifiable audit trail. For example, if you kept your .docx files in a GitHub repository they will be stronger evidence than those kept on a local hard drive.</p>

<p>Evidence is evidence.</p>

<p>The word document can be evidence of something.</p>

<p>Yes it is true that the document can be forged, modified etc.</p>

<p>But this only affects how much weight is attached to the evidence (i.e how convincing it is)</p>

<p>If in doubt, why not make PDFs?</p>

<p>PDF software generally has a signature feature.  I use foxit, which is free and easy to use, and it has a handy signing tool.  You just upload a scanned signature image in.</p>

<p>When I needed to send official communications to a hearing officer, with copy to the other side, I emailed for simple things like scheduling discussions.  For motions or a response to a motion, I attached an electronically signed pdf.</p>

<p>That is also the pattern I have seen from others.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>will these documents hold in the court of law? </p>
</blockquote>

<p>They could be. It is up to a party to dispute the adversary's evidence regardless of how easy it is to alter that evidence. Absent an objection, the '.docx' file would be considered <em>admitted</em>.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>what prevents someone from altering the contents of the document?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Nothing. But in the event of forgery, the victim of that forgery should point to further evidence (perhaps <em>circumstantial</em> evidence and/or inconsistencies in the parties' conduct) with which to discredit the altered document.</p>
