Shaughnessy v. Cox

*690A stipulation of settlement that is incorporated but not merged into a judgment of divorce is a contract subject to principles of contract construction and interpretation (see Matter of Gravlin v Ruppert, 98 NY2d 1, 5 [2002]; Colucci v Colucci, 54 AD3d 710, 712 [2008]). Where such an agreement is clear and unambiguous on its face, the intent of the parties must be gleaned from the four corners of the instrument, and not from extrinsic evidence (see Matter of Meccico v Meccico, 76 NY2d 822, 824 [1990]; Colucci v Colucci, 54 AD3d at 712; Herzfeld v Herzfeld, 50 AD3d 851, 851-852 [2008]). An…