Beleggrundlage

Beleggrundlage is a German term used to denote the evidentiary basis on which a statement, claim, or decision rests. It refers to the set of materials that substantiate something, including documents, data, records, citations, and expert opinions. In legal practice, the Beleggrundlage forms the factual and documentary foundation of a judgment or legal argument: contracts, invoices, correspondence, witness statements, expert reports, and statutory references may all count as Belege that constitute the Beleggrundlage. The term is related to, but distinct from, the concept of Beweis and the burden of proof (Beweislast). Beleggrundlage describes what the decisionmaker relies on; Beweis describes the process of proving a claim. The sufficiency and admissibility of the Beleggrundlage influence whether a conclusion is considered persuasive or legally effective.

Beyond law, Beleggrundlage is used in academic writing and journalism to describe the sources and documents underpinning a claim, ensuring verifiability and traceability. It emphasizes that statements should be supported by appropriate evidence rather than asserted without basis.

Etymology: Beleg means evidence or document; Grundlage means foundation or basis. The term is used in singular and plural (Beleggrundlage, Beleggrundlagen).