Which are two common forms of documentary evidence and a key authentication requirement for each?

• A. Emails not requiring authentication; handwritten notes; social media posts; audio recordings.
• B. CCTV footage: no authentication needed; phone bills: disregard origin.
• C. Photographs: always valid without source; void without timestamps.
• D. Contracts or written agreements: prove origin and integrity; bank records: verify source and maintain unaltered copies.

Answer: (D)

Documentary evidence must be authenticated to show where it came from and that it hasn’t been altered. Contracts or written agreements are a common form because they document agreed terms and show who created and signed them, making origin and intent traceable. The authentication requirement here is proving the document’s origin (who drafted or signed it) and its integrity, typically by using the original or certified copies, valid signatures, dates, and, if needed, notary or witnesses to confirm authenticity and prevent tampering.

Bank records are another staple since they originate from financial institutions and provide a reliable record of transactions and ownership. For bank records, the key authentication requirement is confirming the source—the issuing bank—and preserving an unaltered copy, often through original statements or certified copies, along with metadata or an audit trail to demonstrate that the record has not been changed.