parol evidence rule

Contracts. The common-law principle that a writing intended by the parties to be a final embodiment of their agreement cannot be modified by evidence of earlier or contemporaneous agreements that might add to, vary, or contradict the writing.

• This rule usu. operates to prevent a party from introducing extrinsic evidence of negotiations that occurred before or while the agreement was being reduced to its final written form. See INTEGRATION(2); MERGER(2). Cf. FOUR-CORNERS RULE. [Cases: Evidence 397. C.J.S. Evidence §§ 1159, 1165, 1189.]

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译者Clara，毕业于国内知名法学院，擅长翻译各种与衍生工具相关的法律文件。