A brief guide to the standard of proof (or burden of proof) that applies in civil cases in England and Wales. It includes authorities in which the courts have considered whether a higher standard of proof is required for particularly serious allegations, and the standard to be applied in quasi-criminal cases.

It also considers the circumstances where a court is unable to make findings of fact and cannot say that any one version of events satisfies the balance of probabilities and it can, therefore, decide the case by resorting to the burden of proof.