Which statement describes documentary evidence?

• A. It includes written records
• B. It is always oral testimony
• C. It cannot be authenticated
• D. It is not admissible in court

Answer: (A)

Documentary evidence is evidence in written form that helps establish facts in a case. It includes records created or maintained by reliable sources, such as logs, reports, contracts, invoices, emails, and other written communications. This type of evidence is different from oral testimony, which is spoken statements by witnesses.

A key point is that documentary evidence is admissible in court when it is authentic and relevant. Authenticity means there is a proper foundation showing the document is what it purports to be, often established by testimony from a custodian, the source, or through chain-of-custody or other corroborating proof.

That’s why the statement describing documentary evidence as including written records is the best fit. The other statements are not correct because documentary evidence is not limited to oral testimony, it can be authenticated, and it can be admissible in court if properly authenticated and relevant.