todistusperustelujen

Todistusperustelut (todistusperustelujen) refer to the justification provided in a legal decision that explains how the supported evidence leads to the factual findings and the final conclusion. They are a central part of decisions in Finnish judicial and administrative proceedings, ensuring that outcomes are understandable and reviewable.

In practice, todistusperustelut are based on the evidence presented by the parties and, when applicable, on official records, expert opinions, and other documents. A typical motivation describes the facts found, the evidence relied upon for each factual finding, how that evidence supports the conclusions, and the legal assessment that applies the relevant law to the facts.

The content should be sufficiently clear and explicit to let the parties see the line of reasoning and to enable effective appeal or supervisory review. In Finland, providing adequate todistusperustelut is part of the broader requirement that decisions be reasoned, applying in both administrative and judicial contexts. If the todistusperustelut are inadequate or opaque, the decision can be challenged, and higher authorities may remand it for clarification or reconsideration.

Related concepts include todisteet (evidence), todistustaakka (burden of proof), and perustelut (reasoning). Todistusperustelut emphasize the link between the evidence and the outcome, rather than policy considerations alone. The quality of todistusperustelut affects the legitimacy, predictability, and appealability of decisions.