What is the burden of proof in civil law?

In civil law, the burden of proof is the obligation of a party in a civil lawsuit to prove the facts that are necessary for the case to be decided in its favor. This burden is higher than the burden of proof required in criminal cases, which is "beyond a reasonable doubt." In California, the burden of proof for civil cases is generally "by a preponderance of the evidence," meaning that the party must prove that it is more likely than not that the claim is true. The burden of proof must be met by one of the parties in order for a judge or jury to decide on the case. The burden may shift from one party to the other during the course of the trial. For example, if a defendant argues that the plaintiff was at fault, the plaintiff may be responsible for proving that they were not negligent. The burden of proof is an important concept in civil law because it helps the court decide whether or not a case should be decided in favor of the plaintiff or the defendant. When the burden of proof is met, it shows that the other party has failed to provide adequate evidence to win their case. Consequently, the party with the burden of proof has a much greater chance of winning the case.

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