Which standard of proof applies in civil cases?

In civil cases, the standard of proof applied is "preponderance of evidence." This means that for a party to prevail in a civil suit, they must demonstrate that their claims are more likely true than not. Essentially, this standard requires that the evidence in support of their arguments outweighs the evidence presented by the opposing party, tipping the scale in favor of one side.

This is a lower threshold than "beyond a reasonable doubt," which is the standard used in criminal cases and requires a much higher level of certainty regarding a defendant's guilt. The "clear and convincing proof" standard, while still higher than "preponderance of evidence," is typically applicable in specific civil contexts, such as cases involving the termination of parental rights or certain fraud claims. "Reasonable suspicion" is a standard primarily used in the context of law enforcement when determining whether to conduct a search or seizure and does not apply to civil proceedings at all. Thus, "preponderance of evidence" is the appropriate standard for civil cases, facilitating a decision based on a balance of probabilities rather than an absolute certainty.