What is the standard of proof for a civil case?

In a civil case in the state of Maryland, the legal standard of proof required to establish a case is known as a preponderance of the evidence. This means that the burden of proof is on the plaintiff, or the person filing the lawsuit, to show that the truth and accuracy of their claims is more likely than not. This is a lesser burden of proof than seen in criminal cases, as the plaintiff must only produce enough evidence to convince the judge or jury that their claims are more probable to be true than not. Preponderance of the evidence does not require the plaintiff to prove their case beyond any doubt. Rather, they must simply show that their claims have a greater than 50% chance of being true. This could mean producing documents, witness testimony, or other evidence to present to the court. Depending on the case, the plaintiff may need to produce even more substantial evidence than this. In order to win a civil case, the plaintiff must be able to prove and justify their claims to the court. Preponderance of the evidence is the legal standard required to do this. If the plaintiff is able to meet this burden, they will win their case. However, if the defendant is able to provide evidence or arguments to show that their claims are false, the plaintiff may not be able to meet the standard of proof and will lose their case.

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What is the standard of proof for a civil case?

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