Legal Definitions - spontaneous declaration

Definition: A statement made without time to reflect or fabricate, related to the circumstances of the perceived occurrence, and considered as evidence. It is also known as a spontaneous statement, spontaneous exclamation, or spontaneous utterance.

For example, if a witness sees a car accident and immediately exclaims, "Oh my God, that car just ran the red light and hit the other car!" This statement would be considered a spontaneous declaration because it was made without time to reflect or fabricate and is related to the circumstances of the perceived occurrence.

Spontaneous declarations are important in legal cases because they are considered more reliable than statements made after reflection or fabrication. They are often used as evidence in criminal cases to prove guilt or innocence.