Beweiskräftig

Beweiskräftig is a German adjective used to describe something that possesses Beweiskraft, meaning it has evidentiary force or is capable of being accepted as proof in a legal context. It denotes the probative value of information, documents, or statements. Whether something is beweiskräftig depends on the applicable law, the form and content of the evidence, and the circumstances of the case.

In legal proceedings, the Beweiskraft of an item is assessed by the court. Documents such as notarized certificates or official records are often considered beweiskräftig because their authenticity or formal provenance lends them strong evidentiary weight. By contrast, informal or unsubstantiated statements typically have weaker Beweiskraft, unless corroborated by additional evidence. The strength of Beweiskraft can also be influenced by rules on admissibility, burden of proof, and potential counter-evidence.

Etymology and related terms: Beweiskraft derives from Beweis (proof) and Kraft (force). Related concepts include Beweis, Beweismittel (evidence), Beweislast (burden of proof), and Beweisführung (presentation of evidence). The term is used not only in formal legal writing but also in everyday language to indicate that a piece of information can serve as proof for a claim.