Okuzeka
Law vocabulary · Evidence & Proof

Standard of proof

Meaning in law, with examples

nounCommon term

In law, standard of proof means: The level of certainty a court needs before it accepts that a fact has been proved; it is higher in criminal cases than in civil cases.

In Turkish: ispat ölçüsü, ispat standardı

How it is used

In English civil cases the standard is 'the balance of probabilities' (more likely than not); in US civil cases it is usually 'a preponderance of the evidence'. In criminal trials it is 'beyond reasonable doubt'. Lawyers ask whether the standard 'has been met'.

Example sentences

  1. The standard of proof in a civil case is lower than in a criminal trial.

  2. The tribunal found that the standard of proof had not been met.

Common collocations

  • civil standard of proof
  • criminal standard of proof
  • meet the standard of proof
  • higher standard of proof
  • burden of proofThe duty of one side in a case to prove that the facts it relies on are true; if it cannot do so, it loses on that point.
  • proveTo show with evidence that a fact or claim is true, to the standard the court requires, so that the court can rely on it.
  • evidenceDocuments, objects, statements and other information that a court uses to decide which facts are true.
  • prima facieBased on what is first seen or known, before closer examination; in law, enough to support a claim unless the other side proves otherwise.

More terms: Evidence & Proof

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.