FACE
The external appearance or surface of anything;
that which is readily observable by a spectator. The
words contained in a document in their plain or
obvious meaning without regard to external evi-
dence or facts.
The term is applied most frequently in busi-
ness law to mean the apparent meaning of a
contract, paper, bill, bond, record, or other such
legal document. A document might appear to be
valid on its face, but circumstances may modify
or explain it, and its meaning or validity can be
