---
kind: "section"
citation: "Fed. R. Evid. 415"
title: "28a"
title_heading: "Judicial Personnel Financial Disclosure Requirements"
number: "evid-415"
heading: "Similar Acts in Civil Cases Involving Sexual Assault or Child Molestation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/28a/evid-415"
units:
  - "Court Rules — Federal Rules of Evidence"
  - "Article IV — Relevance and Its Limits"
---

# Rule 415. Similar Acts in Civil Cases Involving Sexual Assault or Child Molestation

- (a) **Permitted Uses.** In a [civil case](/usc/28a/evid-101.md?p=b-1) involving a claim for relief based on a party’s alleged sexual assault or child molestation, the court may admit evidence that the party committed any other sexual assault or child molestation. The evidence may be considered as provided in Rules [413](/usc/28a/evid-413.md) and 414.
- (b) **Disclosure to the Opponent.** If a party intends to offer this evidence, the party must disclose it to the party against whom it will be offered, including witnesses’ [statements](/usc/28a/evid-801.md?p=a) or a summary of the expected testimony. The party must do so at least 15 days before trial or at a later time that the court allows for good cause.
- (c) **Effect on Other Rules.** This rule does not limit the admission or consideration of evidence under any other rule.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, § 320935(a), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2137; amended Apr. 26, 2011, eff. Dec. 1, 2011.)

## Notes

### Committee Notes on Rules—2011 Amendment

The language of Rule 415 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.

### Effective Date

Rule effective July 9, 1995, see section 320935(b)–(e) of Pub. L. 103–322, set out as a note under rule 413 of these rules.