The four corners rule is historically associated with which body of law?

• A. Common law
• B. UCC
• C. Restatement
• D. International law

Answer: (A)

Think about how courts read a contract by focusing on the words inside the document and treating them as the complete record of the agreement. That approach, known as the four corners rule, comes from historical common law practice. It suggests that, unless there’s ambiguity or a specific exception, the interpretation should be limited to the text within the four corners of the contract itself, without weighing external evidence.

This is why the four corners rule is associated with common law. The other bodies don’t fit as well because the UCC, which governs sale of goods in many jurisdictions, allows look at extrinsic factors like course of dealing, usage of trade, and course of performance to interpret terms or fill gaps. The Restatement reflects modern practice and also permits considering external context to determine meaning. International law relies on treaties, customary practice, and contextual interpretation beyond a single document rather than sticking to its text alone.