# Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.010: 491.010 Witness's interest does not disqualify — exception — statements of deceased ..

> Missouri · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.010

## Section

- **Citation:** Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.010
- **Heading:** 491.010 Witness's interest does not disqualify — exception — statements of deceased ..
- **Jurisdiction:** Missouri
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MO Code / Chapter 491 / Section 491.010

## Text

491.010. Witness's interest does not disqualify — exception — statements of deceased persons and incompetents and other parties to the transaction — abrogation of deadman statute. — 1. No person shall be disqualified as a witness in any civil suit or proceeding at law or in equity, by reason of his interest in the event of the same as a party or otherwise, but such interest may be shown for the purpose of affecting his credibility.

2. In any such suit, proceeding or probate matter, where one of the parties to the contract, transaction, occurrence or cause of action, or his agent in such matter, is dead or is shown to be incompetent, and the adverse party or his agent testifies with respect thereto, then any relevant statement or statements made by the deceased party or agent or by the incompetent prior to his incompetency, shall not be excluded as hearsay, provided that in trials before a jury, the trial judge shall first determine by voir dire examination out of the hearing of the jury that the declarant would have been a competent witness and that his alleged statement or statements would have been admissible in evidence if he were available to testify.

3. The provisions of this section shall apply to all trials commenced after September 28, 1985.

(RSMo 1939 § 1887, A.L. 1983 S.B. 44 & 45, A.L. 1985 S.B. 35, et al.) Prior revisions: 1929 § 1723; 1919 § 5410; 1909 § 6354

## Nearby sections

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- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.015 491.015 Victim or witness in certain cases not to be interrogated as to prior ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.015.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.016 491.016 Otherwise inadmissible witness statement admissible in criminal proceeding, ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.016.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.030 491.030 Adverse party may be compelled to testify in civil cases.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.030.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.040 491.040 Sections 491.010 and 491.030 construed.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.040.md)
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- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.060 491.060 Persons incompetent to testify — exceptions, children in certain cases.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.060.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.065 491.065 Informants, disclosure requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.065.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.070 491.070 Cross-examination of witnesses — scope.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.070.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.074 491.074 Prior inconsistent statement may be admissible in criminal cases as ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.074.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.075 491.075 Statement of child under eighteen or vulnerable person admissible, when.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.075.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.078 491.078 Juvenile court adjudication, use to affect credibility — sexual offense ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.078.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.080 491.080 Testimony of witness not to be used to convict him of fraud.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.080.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 491.090 491.090 Summons of witnesses — procedure — consequences of failure to appear.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.090.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C491_S491.010. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.