🔑 Clear and Convincing Evidence: What the Standard Requires

The "clear and convincing evidence" standard is an intermediate burden of proof used in civil proceedings. It requires a party to establish that a factual claim is highly probable — stronger than merely "more likely than not" level of certainty for the preponderance of the evidence standard, but not as demanding as near certainty that the reasonable doubt standard requires.

The clear and convincing evidence standard reflects a policy choice: when significant interests are at stake, the law demands stronger proof before granting relief.