Legal Speak Made Easy

“Prima facie”

Literally meaning “at first face” or “at first sight”, this term is often used in statutes and contracts to provide that a document is proof of the facts recorded in it in the absence of evidence to the contrary. A birth certificate or a bank certificate of balance are common examples. It can also apply for example to evidence given in a trial in the sense of being “proof (evidence) calling for an answer”. In other words, to be considered correct unless shown not to be.