# Me. R. Evid. 301: Rule 301. PRESUMPTIONS IN CIVIL CASES GENERALLY

> Maine · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R301

## Section

- **Citation:** Me. R. Evid. 301
- **Heading:** Rule 301. PRESUMPTIONS IN CIVIL CASES GENERALLY
- **Jurisdiction:** Maine
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Maine Rules of Court / Maine Rules of Evidence / Me. R. Evid. 301

## Text

(a) Effect. In a civil case, unless a statute or these rules provide otherwise,
the party against whom a presumption is directed has the burden of
proving that the nonexistence of the presumed fact is more probable
than its existence.

(b) Prima facie evidence. A statute providing that a fact or group of facts
is prima facie evidence of another fact establishes a presumption within
the meaning of this rule.

(c)
Conflicting presumptions. If two presumptions conflict with each
other, the court must apply the presumption that is more strongly
supported by policy and logic. If neither presumption is more strongly
supported by policy and logic, both presumptions must be disregarded.

Maine Restyling Note [November 2014]

Maine Rule 301 is quite different from Federal Rule 301, in that the
effect of a presumption is different and there are additional provisions dealing

27 Now subdivision (f).

with the phrase “prima facie evidence” and conflicting presumptions. The
proposed restyled Rule attempts to retain these distinctions in restyled
format and language.

Federal Advisory Committee Note

The language of Rule 301 has been amended as part of the restyling of
the Evidence Rules to make them more easily understood and to make style
and terminology consistent throughout the rules. These changes are intended
to be stylistic only. There is no intent to change any result in any ruling on
evidence admissibility.
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## Nearby sections

- [Me. R. Evid. 101 Rule 101. APPLICABILITY; DEFINITIONS; TITLE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R101.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 102 Rule 102. PURPOSE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R102.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 103 Rule 103. RULINGS ON EVIDENCE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R103.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 104 Rule 104. PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R104.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 105 Rule 105. LIMITING EVIDENCE THAT IS NOT ADMISSIBLE AGAINST](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R105.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 106 Rule 106. REMAINDER OF OR RELATED WRITINGS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R106.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 201 Rule 201. JUDICIAL NOTICE OF ADJUDICATIVE FACTS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R201.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 301 Rule 301. PRESUMPTIONS IN CIVIL CASES GENERALLY](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R301.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 302 Rule 302. PRESUMPTION OF LEGITIMACY](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R302.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 303 Rule 303. PRESUMPTIONS IN CRIMINAL CASES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R303.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 401 Rule 401. TEST FOR RELEVANT EVIDENCE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R401.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 402 Rule 402. GENERAL ADMISSIBILITY OF RELEVANT EVIDENCE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R402.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 403 Rule 403. EXCLUDING RELEVANT EVIDENCE FOR PREJUDICE,](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R403.md)
- [Me. R. Evid. 404 Rule 404. CHARACTER EVIDENCE; CRIMES OR OTHER ACTS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R404.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_ME_EVID_R301. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.