# Rule 401, SCRE: Rule 401. DEFINITION OF "RELEVANT EVIDENCE"

> South Carolina · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R401

## Section

- **Citation:** Rule 401, SCRE
- **Heading:** Rule 401. DEFINITION OF "RELEVANT EVIDENCE"
- **Jurisdiction:** South Carolina
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** South Carolina Court Rules / South Carolina Rules of Evidence / Rule 401, SCRE

## Text

RULE 401
DEFINITION OF "RELEVANT EVIDENCE"
"Relevant evidence" means evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.
Note:
This rule is identical to the federal rule and is consistent with South Carolina law.
State v. Alexander
, 303 S.C. 377, 401 S.E.2d 146 (1991);
State v. Schmidt
, 288 S.C. 301, 342 S.E.2d 401 (1986).

## Nearby sections

- [Rule 101, SCRE Rule 101. SCOPE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R101.md)
- [Rule 102, SCRE Rule 102. PURPOSE AND CONSTRUCTION](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R102.md)
- [Rule 103, SCRE Rule 103. RULINGS ON EVIDENCE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R103.md)
- [Rule 104, SCRE Rule 104. PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R104.md)
- [Rule 105, SCRE Rule 105. LIMITED ADMISSIBILITY](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R105.md)
- [Rule 106, SCRE Rule 106. REMAINDER OF OR RELATED WRITINGS OR STATEMENTS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R106.md)
- [Rule 201, SCRE Rule 201. JUDICIAL NOTICE OF ADJUDICATIVE FACTS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R201.md)
- [Rule 301, SCRE Rule 301. PRESUMPTIONS IN GENERAL IN CIVIL ACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R301.md)
- [Rule 401, SCRE Rule 401. DEFINITION OF "RELEVANT EVIDENCE"](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R401.md)
- [Rule 402, SCRE Rule 402. RELEVANT EVIDENCE GENERALLY ADMISSIBLE; IRRELEVANT EVIDENCE INADMISSIBLE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R402.md)
- [Rule 403, SCRE Rule 403. EXCLUSION OF RELEVANT EVIDENCE ON GROUNDS OF PREJUDICE, CONFUSION, OR WASTE OF TIME](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R403.md)
- [Rule 404, SCRE Rule 404. CHARACTER EVIDENCE NOT ADMISSIBLE TO PROVE CONDUCT; EXCEPTION; OTHER CRIMES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R404.md)
- [Rule 405, SCRE Rule 405. METHODS OF PROVING CHARACTER](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R405.md)
- [Rule 406, SCRE Rule 406. HABIT; ROUTINE PRACTICE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R406.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_SC_SCRE_R401. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.