123456 7 00 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 In contract law with respect to contract formation, why do we look at the outward manifestation of the parties as opposed to testimony about what people believe? Courts never evaluate the intent of a party involved in a legal proceeding. The outward manifestation is a perfect indicator of a party's intent whether to enter into a contract. Subjective intent is inherently more reliable than outward manifestations as to what people truly want to do. It could difficult and expensive to contract if each party has to determine whether the other side subjectively believes he or she is entering a contract.