Parol evidence is generally not used to do what in probate filings?

• A. Alter the terms of a will.
• B. Prove ownership of property through deeds.
• C. Determine the validity of a will at filing stage.
• D. Identify heirs.

Answer: (A)

Parol evidence rules in probate focus on keeping the written will as the final expression of the testator’s wishes. Oral statements or agreements cannot be used to rewrite the terms that appear in the will. The document itself controls what the heirs receive, and extrinsic statements cannot alter those express terms. You may see parol evidence used to interpret ambiguous language or to challenge because of issues like improper execution or lack of capacity, but it cannot be used to change what the will already says.

The other tasks listed—proving ownership through deeds, assessing validity under certain circumstances, or identifying heirs—are not about rewriting the will themselves, and in many cases parol evidence can be relevant in those contexts for separate purposes.