Harlan's Rule

Harlan's Rule is a guideline used in drafting legal documents, particularly wills, to avoid ambiguity. It states that if there are two or more possible interpretations of a word or phrase, the interpretation that favors the person who didn't draft the document (usually the testator or testatrix) should be preferred. This helps ensure that the intentions of the person creating the will are honored, even if the language isn't perfectly clear. Essentially, it promotes fairness and clarity by assuming the drafter did not intend to create confusion or unfair outcomes.