Legal Definitions - four corners

The legal principle of "four corners" refers to the idea that when a court interprets a written legal document, such as a contract, will, or deed, it will primarily consider only the information contained within the document itself. This means the court will look at the words, phrases, and clauses written on the face of the document to determine its meaning and the intentions of the parties involved. Generally, outside evidence or information not included within the document's physical boundaries will not be considered, unless the language within the document is unclear or ambiguous.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Contract Dispute: Imagine a software development company signs a contract with a client. The written contract clearly outlines the scope of work, deliverables, and payment schedule. Later, the client claims that during a meeting, the company verbally promised to include an additional feature that is not mentioned anywhere in the signed document.

  Under the "four corners" rule, a court would likely disregard the client's claim about the verbal promise. The court would focus solely on the terms written within the signed contract to determine the obligations of both parties, as the alleged additional feature falls outside the document's "four corners."

• Will Interpretation: A person drafts a will that explicitly states their antique car collection should be inherited by their niece. After the person's death, a nephew comes forward claiming that the deceased had told him repeatedly that he actually wanted the nephew to have the cars.

  A probate court, applying the "four corners" doctrine, would almost certainly award the car collection to the niece as stated in the written will. Unless there is significant ambiguity or a clear error within the will itself, the court will not consider outside verbal statements, as the will's written text is considered the definitive expression of the deceased's wishes.

• Commercial Lease Agreement: A small business signs a five-year lease for an office space. The lease agreement contains a clause stating that the tenant is responsible for all utility costs, including electricity and water. The business owner later argues that the landlord verbally assured them during negotiations that utilities would be included in the rent.

  A court would uphold the terms of the written lease based on the "four corners" rule. The clear language within the lease agreement, which places responsibility for utilities on the tenant, would take precedence over any alleged verbal agreements that contradict the written document.