caster levels and rules question

[Thac0 Redeye]

I'm having a hard time finding the rules for a general situation. what does a caster have to do in order to cast a spell from a scroll that is a level higher than they can ordinarily cast. ie. a 4th level sorcerer can cast up to second level spells. lets say he has a CHA of 16. what has to happen for him to cast a 3rd level spell from a scroll? and where in the PH is the rule located?
Thanks

[Kelb_Panthera]

The rules for activating scrolls are on page 238 of the Dungeon Master's Guide.

The spell has to be on your spell list, the scroll has to be of the right type (arcane or divine), you have to have a high enough casting stat, and you have to have a caster level high enough to cast the spell to activate them without making any kind of check.

For your particular situation, where you meet all but the caster level requirement, you just have to make a caster level check against a DC of the scroll's caster level +1.

[flappeercraft]

Rules are here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/scrolls.htm#activatetheSpell)

[Thac0 Redeye]

thanks, I guess I was looking in the wrong book.
Cheers!