What is a requirement for a business record to be admissible in a legal proceeding?

For a business record to be admissible in a legal proceeding, it is crucial that it has been made at or near the time of the event recorded. This requirement is part of the hearsay exception under the rules of evidence, specifically Rule 803(6). The rationale behind this rule is that records created contemporaneously with the events they document are generally more reliable because they reflect the immediate knowledge of the person making the record and reduce the opportunity for error or tampering.

Records that do not meet this time frame may not accurately reflect the facts due to memory decay or misrepresentation, thus undermining their trustworthiness. This criterion helps ensure that only high-quality evidence that is likely to provide an accurate account of past events is allowed in court, ultimately supporting a fair legal process.