reformation (ref-[schwa]r-may-sh[schwa]n), n. An equitable remedy by which a court will modify a written agreement to reflect the actual intent of the parties, usu. to correct fraud or mutual mistake in the writing, such as an incomplete property description in a deed. • In cases of mutual mistake, the actual intended agreement must usu. be established by clear and convincing evidence. In cases of fraud, there must be clear evidence of what the agreement would have been but for the fraud. See RECTIFICATION. [Cases: Reformation of Instruments
1. C.J.S. Reformation of Instruments §§ 2–5, 12, 16.] — reform, vb.
“The standard explanation of reformation is that the parties had an actual agreement, and that the writing does not reflect that agreement…. If the parties made a mistake about the premises of their agreement, about some fact in the world outside their word-processing machines, reformation is not a solution. The court cannot reform the contract because it cannot know what the parties would have agreed to but for the mistake.” Douglas Laycock, Modern American Remedies 39 (3d ed. 2002).
双语律师Shifang，知名法学院法律专业，擅长翻译各类与
企业改组和重组相关的法律文件。
