§ 24-3-6 [Parol Evidence for Contract Modification]

When two people make a written contract, there is normally a rule that says you cannot use spoken or informal agreements to change what the written contract says. However, this rule has exceptions.

You can bring in outside evidence (like spoken conversations or informal agreements made later) to show that the contract was canceled entirely, that the two sides made a brand new agreement after the original one, or that they agreed to change the deadline or location for fulfilling the contract. You can also use outside evidence to fight back against an unfair legal claim related to the contract.

This matters because it means a written contract is not always the final word. If you and the other party later agreed to something different, or if you agreed to call the whole deal off, you may be able to prove that in court even if nothing was put in writing.