Strigas v. Durham Life Insurance

Where an instrument is wholly in writing and the intention of the writer must be ascertained from the document itself, the intention of the writer as well as the effect of that intention is a question of law. Young v. Jeffreys, 20 N.C. 357; Spragins v. White, 108 N.C. 449, 13 S.E. 171; Mining Co. v. Smelting Co., 122 N.C. 542, 29 S.E. 940; Wilson v. Cotton Mills, 140 N.C. 52, 52 S.E. 250; Patton v. Lumber Co., 179 N.C. 103, 101 S.E. 613. And if the terms of a writing or contract are explicit, the court determines their effect simply by declaring their legal meaning. Wilson v. Cotton Mills,…