Verification & Evidence Control
A practical framework for deciding whether a fact is sufficiently supported, how the evidence was obtained and what limitations remain.
1. Verification question
For every material fact, identify what must be proven, which source can prove it, how current the source is and whether an independent corroborating source is needed.
2. Evidence lifecycle
- Define the fact or risk question.
- Select the most authoritative available source.
- Capture the exact document, record or dataset used.
- Record retrieval date, identifiers and relevant extracts.
- Compare material facts across sources.
- Document discrepancies and unresolved limitations.
- Link the evidence to the reviewer decision and escalation rationale.
3. Evidence weight
| Evidence type | Typical weight | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Official law / regulator / registry record | High | Scope, timing and jurisdiction still matter |
| Reliable independent professional source | Medium to high | May interpret rather than establish the underlying fact |
| Customer-provided document | Variable | Authenticity, completeness and independence require assessment |
| Open web / media / aggregator | Contextual | May be incomplete, stale, duplicated or inaccurate |
4. Decision rule
Evidence is not sufficient merely because a document exists. The reviewer should be able to explain why the source is relevant, reliable enough for the purpose, current enough for the decision and consistent with the remaining case facts.
Jurisdiction boundary: Prescribed verification methods and document requirements vary. Apply current local law, regulator guidance and internal policy where they are stricter or more specific.