Ontario Paralegal License Practice Exam 2025 - Free Paralegal License Practice Questions and Study Guide

In a civil case, the burden of proof is considered met when it is established "on the balance of probabilities." This standard requires that a party demonstrates that their claims are more likely true than not. Essentially, this means that the evidence presented must make it more than 50% likely that the facts the party is asserting are true. This standard is significantly lower than the one used in criminal cases, where the requirement is to prove the case "beyond a reasonable doubt," which is a much higher threshold.

Additionally, a unanimous jury decision is not a requirement in civil cases as it is in criminal cases. In civil matters, the decision can be made based on the majority opinion of the jurors or the judge alone, depending on the nature of the proceedings. Therefore, the standard of "on the balance of probabilities" distinctly defines the evidential threshold necessary to meet the burden of proof in civil law, making it the correct answer.