Fact (law) - Definition and Overview

In law, a fact is a statement which is found to be true by a "tryer of fact," sometimes a jury, but often the court (the judge or judges) after hearing evidence.

Fact is to be contrasted with law. the jury is the finder of fact; the judge is the determiner of law. In the United States, appellate courts generally only consider only possible errors of law and only very rarely overturn errors of fact.

Depending on the nature of the matter the standard of proof may require that a fact be proved to be "more likely than not", that is there is barely more evidence for the fact than against; established by a preponderance of the evidence; or true beyond reasonable doubt.

Example Usage of (law)