What type of ambiguity arises from evidence outside a legal instrument?

Latent ambiguity occurs when the language of a legal document appears clear on its face, but when applied to external facts or evidence, it leads to multiple interpretations or confusion. This type of ambiguity arises from circumstances surrounding the document or the identities, which were not evident from the language itself but can affect its application.

For instance, if a deed references "my farm," but there are several farms that the grantor owned, the intent of which farm is to be conveyed can become ambiguous only when new information is brought into consideration. This is different from patent ambiguity, which is present when the instrument is unclear from the outset due to its wording. The four corners rule refers to a legal principle stating that the interpretation of a document should be based solely on its content without considering external evidence. Reversion pertains to a property right that returns to the original owner after a condition is met or a term expires, and does not relate to ambiguity in the language of a legal instrument.