What defines primary evidence in legal terms?

In legal terms, primary evidence refers specifically to original documents that are presented in court to substantiate claims or arguments. This original documentation is crucial as it serves as the most direct and credible form of evidence regarding an issue at hand, such as the terms of a contract or the ownership of property.

When an original document is available, it holds significant weight in legal proceedings because it is considered to provide unaltered and authentic proof of the facts it represents. Such documents can include things like contracts, deeds, certificates, and any official records that serve as the foundational basis for claims.

In contrast, witness testimonies are considered secondary or corroborative—while they can bolster claims, they do not provide the direct evidence that an original document does. Similarly, a copy of a deed or any other form of secondary evidence cannot carry the same authority as an original document because copies may be subject to dispute regarding their legitimacy. Secondary evidence can be valuable in instances when original documents are unavailable, but it is not prioritized over primary evidence. Thus, the definition of primary evidence is rooted firmly in the necessity for original documentation to establish legal claims and rights.