Intro to Paralegal Studies Practice Exam 2026 - Free Paralegal Practice Questions and Study Guide

Direct evidence is the type of evidence that directly establishes a fact without the need for any inferential reasoning. It provides a straightforward connection to the event or fact in question. For example, eyewitness testimony that describes an event as it happened serves as direct evidence because it directly relates to the occurrence of that event.

In contrast, circumstantial evidence requires a certain level of inference to draw a conclusion about the fact in question. Cumulative evidence consists of multiple pieces of evidence that bolster or strengthen a particular claim but do not, on their own, provide a direct link. Documentary evidence refers to written or recorded materials that support a legal argument but may also require interpretation. Therefore, among the provided options, direct evidence is the only type that establishes an explicit and immediate connection to the event that must be proven.