admission against interest

An admission against interest is an out-of-court statement made by a party that is against their own pecuniary, proprietary, or penal interest, and that is admissible under both an exclusion (admission by a party-opponent) and an exception (statement against interest) to the rule against hearsay. Such a statement is admissible even if the declarant is available because an admission by a party-opponent is non-hearsay and, thus, does not require unavailability.

See also: Admission, Admission of guilt, Declaration against interest, Hearsay, Hearsay Rule, Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 801(d)(2) and 804(b)(3)

[Last reviewed in February of 2025 by the Wex Definitions Team]

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