Certification of authorities
Also: certificate of authenticity, authenticity certification
A statement a lawyer signs in a court filing saying they checked that every case cited is real. Ontario requires it in factums.
The fuller definition
Some courts require the person filing a factum or expert report to certify that they are satisfied the cited authorities are authentic. In Ontario, amendments to the Rules of Civil Procedure in force on 1 December 2024 added this requirement for all factums and expert reports.
- Cited authority
Found in a recognized source
- Certification
Signed statement in the filing
- Disclosure
Required by some other courts
A simplified relationship, not a screenshot or a complete design.
A concrete example
Before filing, counsel opens each cited decision in a recognized source and confirms the citation, the court, and the passage relied on.
The distinction that matters
Certification concerns authenticity, not AI use, and applies whether or not AI was involved. Other courts instead require disclosure of AI use. Check the current rules and practice directions for your court.
Related terms
Fabricated citation
A case or quotation the AI invented. It looks real and is not.
Law & professional practiceAI disclosure to the court
Some courts require you to say if AI helped prepare a filing.
Documents & retrievalCitation
A pointer to the source that supports a statement, so someone can check it.
Where it is taught
What courts expect when you use AISource and further reading
Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure, r.4.06.1The definition and example are written for this library. The link gives background, official documentation or legal authority as labelled. Legal scope depends on the jurisdiction and current text; product features depend on release and settings.