fact legal definition

Something that exists or has happened; an irreducible element of real existence or occurrence.

A fact that is not central to the main issue or controversy.

A fact that tends to prove, or is a necessary prerequisite for the proof of, another fact.

Such a fact as must exist before a court will exercise jurisdiction over a matter; for example, in a diversity case in federal court, that the parties are citizens of different states and that the amount in controversy is above a threshold level.

See evidentiary fact.

An essential fact, arrived at by inference from the evidence and testimony, that causes the final determination or conclusion of law.