156Public documents

### 156 Public documents > > (1)  A document that purports to be a copy of, or an extract from or summary of, a public document and to have been – > > > > > > (a) sealed with the seal of a person who, or a body that, might reasonably be supposed to have the custody of the public document; or > > > > > > > (b) certified as such a copy, extract or summary by a person who might reasonably be supposed to have custody of the public document – > > > > is presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be a copy of the public document or an extract from or summary of the public document. > > > (2)  If an officer entrusted with the custody of a public document is required by a court to produce the public document, it is sufficient compliance with the requirement for the officer to produce a copy of, or extract from, the public document if it purports to be signed and certified by the officer as a true copy or extract. > > > (3)  It is sufficient production of a copy or extract for the purpose of [subsection (2)](#GS156@Gs2@EN) if the officer sends it by prepaid post, or causes it to be delivered, to – > > > > > > (a) the proper officer of the court in which it is to be produced; or > > > > > > > (b) the person before whom it is to be produced. > > > (4)  The court before which a copy or extract is produced under [subsection (2)](#GS156@Gs2@EN) may direct the officer to produce the original public document.