Four Corners Rule Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Four Corners Rule.

Four Corners Rule (noun):

A legal principle in contract interpretation that states that if the language in a document is clear and unambiguous, the words contained within the document ("four corners") are the only factors to be considered when determining its meaning. Under this rule, external influences such as verbal agreements or understandings that are not specifically written in the document are not taken into account. The purpose of this rule is to uphold the intention of the document as a whole, rather than focusing on individual sentences or clauses.