What legal principle does “parol evidence rule” embody?

The parol evidence rule is a legal principle that essentially states that once parties have entered into a written contract, any prior or contemporaneous oral agreements or statements cannot be used to alter, contradict, or add to the written terms of that contract. This means that if there is a dispute regarding the contract, the evidence presented in court must be limited to what is contained within the four corners of the document, and not include any previous oral discussions or agreements.

This principle ensures the integrity of the written contract by preventing one party from claiming that an agreement was made outside of what is documented in the contract. Thus, when a written contract is complete and clear, only written evidence can be admitted if someone wants to challenge the terms or enforce modifications.

In contrast, options suggesting the allowance of oral testimony to override written contracts, prohibiting amendments post-signing without considering the written terms, or permitting the introduction of previous agreements into evidence do not align with the fundamental purpose of the parol evidence rule, which aims to uphold the finality and clarity of written agreements.