What is the parol evidence rule concerning contracts in Georgia?

The parol evidence rule is an important principle in contract law that governs the circumstances under which oral or extrinsic evidence may be introduced in relation to a written contract. In Georgia, as well as generally in contract law, when a contract is considered fully integrated—meaning it is intended as a complete and final embodiment of the agreement between the parties—parol evidence is inadmissible to contradict or vary the terms of that written contract.

This principle upholds the integrity of the written agreement and promotes certainty in contractual relationships. If parties have put their agreement into writing with the intention that this writing constitutes the final expression of their agreement, then any prior or contemporaneous oral statements or agreements that contradict that written expression cannot be used as evidence in court.

Thus, when addressing whether parol evidence can be introduced in situations involving fully integrated contracts in Georgia, the correct understanding is that it cannot be used to contradict such contracts. This reinforces the expectation that written agreements be treated with respect and considered definitive, reducing disputes over what was said or agreed to prior to putting pen to paper.