Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceRule 44.03 clarifies that Rule 44's authentication methods aren't exclusive: an official record, or the presence or absence of an entry within one, can still be proved by any other method the law otherwise allows.
Full Text of Rule 44.03
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Rule 44 does not prevent the proof of official records or of entry or lack of entry therein by any other method authorized by law.
The source reproduced here (current through June 18, 2026) records no amendment to this rule since its original adoption — no History line appears for it in the compiled rules. For the underlying adopting order and any later amendments, see the West’s Rules & Procedures.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 44.01 spells out a convenient way to authenticate official records with attested copies and certificates of custody, but Rule 44.03 makes sure nobody reads that as the only way. Any other method the law recognizes for proving an official record -- or for proving that a record contains no entry on a subject -- remains open to a party.
That matters because plenty of statutes and evidentiary doctrines outside these rules also govern how records come into evidence. Rule 44.03 keeps those paths open alongside the procedure in Rule 44.01, instead of replacing them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the certified-copy method in Rule 44.01 the only way to authenticate an official record in Kentucky?
No. Rule 44.03 states that Rule 44 doesn't prevent proving an official record by any other method authorized by law.
Can I prove that a record has no entry about something, not just that a record exists?
Yes. Rule 44.03 covers proof of an entry or the lack of one in an official record, using any method the law allows.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 44.03). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Kentucky (Ky. Const. § 116). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
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