In care proceedings, the civil standard of evidence applies. This means that the court has to be satisfied that the evidence to show that your child is suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm has been proved on the balance of probabilities.

This phrase has been explained to mean ‘more likely than not, or ‘ ‘more than 50/50′. It is lower than the criminal standard of proof which is ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.

Further reading

B (Children) [2008] UKHL 35