Any matter of fact that a party to a claim or action offers to provide to prove or disprove an issue in the case. The strongest type of evidence is that which provides direct proof of the truth of an assertion. At the other extreme is evidence that is merely consistent with an assertion but does not rule out other, contradictory assertions, and may be viewed as circumstantial evidence.

Also referred to as a mortgage loan, is used by purchasers of real property to raise capital for the purchase, or by existing owners to raise funds for any purpose while putting a lien on the property being mortgaged. The loan is secured on the borrower’s property, putting in place a legal mechanism which will enable the lender to take possession and sell the secured property to pay off the loan in the event that the borrower defaults on the loan or otherwise fails to abide by its terms.