Glossary · Contracts
Parol Evidence Rule
parol-evidence-rule-39e17836337c16b6-2026-07-28
- Type
- Glossary
- Jurisdiction
- National
- Date
- 2026-07-28
- Topic
- Contracts
A rule that, when parties adopt a written contract as the final expression of their deal, bars evidence of earlier or contemporaneous oral agreements that would contradict or add to the writing. It protects the integrity of integrated written agreements, which is why contracts include merger or entire-agreement clauses. Evidence remains admissible for limited purposes such as proving fraud or clarifying genuine ambiguity.
Definition
A rule that, when parties adopt a written contract as the final expression of their deal, bars evidence of earlier or contemporaneous oral agreements that would contradict or add to the writing. It protects the integrity of integrated written agreements, which is why contracts include merger or entire-agreement clauses. Evidence remains admissible for limited purposes such as proving fraud or clarifying genuine ambiguity.
Parol Evidence Rule. A rule that, when parties adopt a written contract as the final expression of their deal, bars evidence of earlier or contemporaneous oral agreements that would contradict or add to the writing. It protects the integrity of integrated written agreements, which is why contracts include merger or entire-agreement clauses. Evidence remains admissible for limited purposes such as proving fraud or clarifying genuine ambiguity. Example: The parol evidence rule barred testimony about a promised discount that never made it into the signed supply agreement.