What is the parol evidence rule primarily concerned with?

The parol evidence rule is primarily focused on the intention of the parties to a contract as expressed in the final written agreement. It holds that once parties have executed a written contract that they intend to be a complete and final expression of their agreement, any oral or prior written negotiations that would alter, contradict, or add to the terms of this written agreement are typically not admissible in court. Therefore, testimony regarding oral negotiations that took place before the signing of the written contract falls directly under the purview of the parol evidence rule, as it seeks to prevent any form of outside evidence from impacting the integrity of the written document itself.

This principle is critical in contract law because it upholds the reliability of written agreements. Parties rely on the written terms as the definitive source of their obligations and rights, thus discouraging potential disputes over what was said or agreed upon outside of that written context. Hence, the focus on testimony about oral negotiations is directly aligned with the objectives of the parol evidence rule.