What is the parol evidence rule?

The parol evidence rule is a legal principle that applies to business transactions in Washington and many other states. The rule prevents people from introducing evidence that contradicts an agreement that has already been written down. This includes things like oral promises, verbal agreements, and any other communication that is not written down in the contract. At its core, the parol evidence rule recognizes that agreements between parties should be binding and certain, and that any uncertain terms should be negotiated before signing. The rule prevents people from introducing new evidence that changes the agreement after the fact. The parol evidence rule also serves to protect people engaging in business transactions. Without the rule, a person could potentially make verbal promises that they didn’t intend to keep in order to get someone to agree to the terms of a contract. This would allow them to unfairly take advantage of someone. By preventing this, the parol evidence rule helps ensure that business transactions are conducted fairly and with integrity.

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What is the parol evidence rule?

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