Clear and convincing evidence

Clear and convincing evidence is a level of burden of persuasion sometimes employed in both civil and criminal procedure in the United States. To prove something by "clear and convincing evidence," the party with the burden of proof must convince the trier of fact that it is substantially more likely than not that the thing is in fact true. This is a lesser requirement than "proof beyond a reasonable doubt," but a stricter requirement than proof by "preponderance of the evidence."