TOWARD A GENERAL THEORY OF STANDARDS OF PROOF

46 Pages Posted: 10 May 2010

See all articles by Fredrick E. Vars

Fredrick E. Vars

University of Alabama - School of Law

Date Written: May 10, 2010

Abstract

Which standard of proof is best for a particular type of case? This deceptively simple question has been much discussed, but the current state of understanding is unsatisfactory. Statisticians posed a general answer; philosophers and others launched an assault on that answer; practically oriented scholars draw on both strains unsystematically; and courts generally offer little or no reasoning for their decisions. The goal of this article is to outline a systematic and complete justification for selecting one probabilistic standard of proof over another. By training a microscope on one small corner of the law - incapacity will contests - this article demonstrates the relevance of old factors, identifies several new factors, and integrates the factors into an approach that will hopefully guide future inquiry. One important implication is that the choice of proof standard will almost necessarily be tentative: too much is unknown or unknowable.

Keywords: Standards of Proof, Incapacity, Will Contests

Suggested Citation

Vars, Fredrick E., TOWARD A GENERAL THEORY OF STANDARDS OF PROOF (May 10, 2010). 60 Catholic University Law Review 1 (2010), U of Alabama Public Law Research Paper No. 1604065, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1604065 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1604065

Fredrick E. Vars (Contact Author)

University of Alabama - School of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 870382
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
United States

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