The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

papers \pa"pers\ n. pl.
   Documents providing information, esp. of an official nature
   about a person, vehicle, business, etc. See paper[9], n.

   Syn: document, written document.
        [WordNet 1.5]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

papers
    n 1: writing that provides information (especially information
         of an official nature) [syn: document, written
         document, papers]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

47 Moby Thesaurus words for "papers":
   Americanization, acculturation, admission, adoption, affiliation,
   ana, archives, assimilation, biographical material,
   biographical records, blank, chirograph,
   citizenship by naturalization, citizenship papers, culture shock,
   docket, document, dossier, file, form, government archives,
   government papers, historical documents, historical records,
   holograph, instrument, legal document, legal instrument,
   legal paper, life records, memorabilia, nationalization,
   naturalization, naturalized citizenship, official document, paper,
   parchment, parish rolls, personal file, presidential papers,
   public records, roll, scrip, script, scroll, writ, writing