Facially Sufficient

A document is facially sufficient when it appears valid and in the correct form. In other words, the document is acceptable in itself and requires no further proof of its adequacy. For example, if a police officer presents to a judge an affidavit, which purports to show probable cause in order to obtain a search warrant, and the judge has no reason to doubt that the affidavit sufficiently shows probable cause, the affidavit is “facially sufficient.” However, facially sufficient documents are subject to challenge.