La prueba en los procesos civiles: Su admisibilidad y valoración

Evidence constitutes an essential element of civil proceedings, as it allows the parties to substantiate their claims and enables the judge to base the judicial decision within a framework of legality and constitutional guarantees. In the Ecuadorian procedural system, its admissibility and evaluation are directly linked to effective judicial protection, due process, and legal certainty. Objective: To analyze, from a dogmatic-legal perspective, the admissibility and evaluation of evidence in Ecuadorian civil proceedings, determining its impact on these constitutional guarantees. Methodology: A qualitative approach was employed, with a non-experimental design, dogmatic-legal typology, descriptive scope, and documentary analysis of normative, doctrinal, and jurisprudential sources. Results: It was determined that evidence must meet the requirements of relevance, usefulness, and admissibility to be incorporated, and must be evaluated as a whole in accordance with the rules of sound judicial reasoning and the duty to provide justification. Discussion: The findings show that an insufficiently reasoned or discretionary application of these criteria may affect the right to defense and the predictability of judicial decisions. Conclusions: Proper admissibility and evaluation of evidence constitute indispensable conditions for legitimate judicial decisions consistent with a constitutional system based on rights and justice.