What is hearsay?

Hearsay refers to statements made by someone who is not a direct witness to an event, but rather is recounting what someone else said about that event. This category of evidence is generally considered unreliable in court because the person making the statement is not available for cross-examination, and there is no way to assess their basis for knowledge or credibility regarding the information shared. Consequently, hearsay is often inadmissible in legal proceedings unless it falls under certain exceptions.

The other options describe forms of evidence or legal statements that do not fit within the definition of hearsay. Direct evidence, for example, involves firsthand accounts that can reliably establish facts, while legal statements made in court refer to formal declarations occurring in a judicial setting. Testimony verified by documentation entails evidence that has been substantiated through physical records, which also contrasts with hearsay. Thus, the correct understanding of hearsay is clearly encapsulated in the definition provided.