Release of Liability Form (England & Wales)
RELEASE OF LIABILITY
This Release of Liability (the “Release”) is entered into on [Agreement Date] between:
(1) [Releasee Name], whose registered or principal address is at [Releasee Address], [Releasee City], [Releasee Postcode] (the “Releasee”); and
(2) [Releasor Name], whose address is at [Releasor Address], [Releasor City], [Releasor Postcode] (the “Releasor”).
The Releasee and the Releasor are referred to collectively as the “Parties”.
BACKGROUND
The Releasor wishes to participate in the following activity organised or facilitated by the Releasee: [Activity Name], taking place on [Activity Date] at [Activity Location] (the “Activity”). The Releasor acknowledges that the Activity carries inherent risks and enters into this Release voluntarily and with full knowledge of those risks.
1. CONSIDERATION
1.1 In consideration of [Consideration], the receipt and adequacy of which the Releasor hereby acknowledges, the Releasor agrees to grant the release and waivers set out in this Release.
2. VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK
2.1 The Releasor acknowledges that they are voluntarily participating in the Activity with full knowledge of the risks involved, including but not limited to: [Risks].
2.2 The Releasor voluntarily assumes all such risks and accepts that the principle of volenti non fit injuria may apply to bar claims arising from risks that the Releasor has knowingly and voluntarily accepted.
2.3 The Releasor confirms that they are physically and mentally fit to participate in the Activity and are not aware of any medical condition that would make participation dangerous.
3. RELEASE AND WAIVER
3.1 To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Releasor, on behalf of themselves and their heirs, personal representatives, and assigns, hereby releases, waives, and discharges the Releasee, its officers, directors, employees, agents, volunteers, and successors from [Release Scope].
3.2 For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Release excludes or restricts the Releasee’s liability for: (a) death or personal injury caused by the Releasee’s negligence, as prohibited by section 2(1) of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977; or (b) fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.
3.3 Where the Releasor is a consumer within the meaning of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, nothing in this Release shall operate to exclude or restrict any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted under that Act.
3.4 The Releasee does not admit any liability by entering into this Release.
4. GENERAL PROVISIONS
4.1 This Release and any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
4.2 Each Party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales in respect of any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Release.
4.3 A person who is not a party to this Release shall have no right under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any of its terms.
4.4 If any provision of this Release is held to be invalid, void, or unenforceable under the laws of England and Wales, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
4.5 This Release constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties in relation to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral and written agreements in relation to the same.
4.6 The Releasor confirms that they have read this Release carefully, have had the opportunity to seek independent legal advice, and sign voluntarily and with full understanding of its terms.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Release of Liability on the date first written above.
THE RELEASEE
Name: [Releasee Name]
Address: [Releasee Address], [Releasee City], [Releasee Postcode]
THE RELEASOR
Name: [Releasor Name]
Address: [Releasor Address], [Releasor City], [Releasor Postcode]
Emergency Contact: [Emergency Contact Name], [Emergency Contact Phone]
Releasee
________________
Signature
Date: ________________
Releasor
________________
Signature
Date: ________________
What Is a Release of Liability Form (England & Wales)?
A Release of Liability Form in the United Kingdom releases one party from liability and records the risks the other party accepts in return for taking part or receiving a benefit, with its requirements set by the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977.
In England and Wales, the legal framework governing release of liability forms is principally set out in the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (UCTA). Section 2(1) of UCTA provides that a person acting in the course of a business cannot, by reference to any contract term or notice, exclude or restrict their liability for death or personal injury caused by their negligence. This is an absolute prohibition: no release form can lawfully exclude liability for negligently caused death or personal injury, and any clause attempting to do so is void and of no effect. Liability for other types of loss or damage caused by negligence (for example, damage to the participant's property) can be excluded only if the exclusion satisfies the reasonableness test in section 11 of UCTA.
Where the participant is a consumer — an individual acting outside the course of their trade, business, craft, or profession — the Consumer Rights Act 2015 imposes additional safeguards. Terms that create a significant imbalance in the parties' rights and obligations to the consumer's detriment and that are contrary to the requirement of good faith are not binding on the consumer. All terms must be expressed in plain and intelligible language.
The principle of volenti non fit injuria (to one who consents, no harm is done) provides a further basis for activity releases. Where a participant freely and genuinely agrees to accept the legal risk of harm arising from the inherent risks of a dangerous activity, the organiser may have a complete defence to a claim arising from those risks. A well-drafted release form, clearly setting out the specific risks being assumed, is strong evidence in support of this defence.
The United Kingdom Release of Liability Form (England & Wales) template is designed for use in England and Wales in connection with activities and events. It complies with the requirements of UCTA 1977 and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and includes optional clauses for emergency medical authorisation, photography consent, rules compliance, and additional bespoke terms.
The legal framework governing the Release of Liability Form (England & Wales) in United Kingdom draws on several key statutes and regulatory bodies. Under UK law, the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 govern personal data in this document. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects individuals in consumer transactions. Section 62 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 addresses unfair terms. The County Court and High Court of Justice have jurisdiction over personal disputes under the Senior Courts Act 1981 and the County Courts Act 1984. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) enforces data protection. Parties executing a Release of Liability Form (England & Wales) in United Kingdom should confirm the document reflects current law, including any amendments enacted since the original drafting date. The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 sets the foundational requirements.
When Do You Need a Release of Liability Form (England & Wales)?
A Release of Liability Form is appropriate for use in England and Wales whenever a business, club, or organisation wishes to obtain the informed consent of a participant before allowing them to take part in an activity that carries a risk of personal injury, property damage, or other harm. The form is most commonly used in the following contexts:
Sports and physical activities: adventure sports operators (climbing, kayaking, white water rafting, skiing, horse riding, bungee jumping, skydiving), fitness studios and gyms, martial arts clubs, cycling events, running races, obstacle courses, trampoline parks, and similar activities where participants are exposed to a risk of injury. The Occupiers' Liability Acts 1957 and 1984 impose duties on occupiers to keep visitors reasonably safe, and a release form helps document the participant's voluntary acceptance of inherent risks while confirming compliance with UCTA.
Events and festivals: event organisers can use a release form to document participant consent and acknowledgment of risks associated with large crowds, outdoor conditions, temporary structures, and other event-specific hazards.
Fitness and personal training: personal trainers and fitness instructors should use a release form alongside a physical activity readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q) to document the client's health status, voluntary acceptance of exercise risks, and consent to undertake a training programme.
Film and photography: a release form can double as a photography and image consent form, authorising the organiser to use images and footage of the participant for promotional and marketing purposes, in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.
Volunteer activities: organisations that deploy volunteers in activities involving risk of personal injury should use a release form to document the volunteer's awareness of and consent to those risks, alongside appropriate insurance coverage.
A release form is not, however, a complete shield against all liability. It cannot exclude liability for negligently caused death or personal injury (UCTA s.2(1)), cannot waive a minor child's future legal claims, and will not be effective if it was not drawn to the participant's attention before they committed to the activity. It should always be accompanied by adequate insurance cover and strong safety management systems.
What to Include in Your Release of Liability Form (England & Wales)
A well-drafted Release of Liability Form for use in England and Wales must contain several key provisions to be effective and to comply with the relevant statutory requirements.
The identification of the parties and the activity is the starting point. The Releasee (the organiser) and the Releasor (the participant) must be clearly identified by their full names and addresses. The activity must be described as specifically as possible, including the date and location, so that the scope of the release is clearly defined and cannot be disputed.
The assumption of risk clause is central to the document. The Releasor must acknowledge that the activity carries inherent risks and must specifically identify those risks. The clause invokes the principle of volenti non fit injuria and provides strong evidence that the Releasor freely accepted the legal risk of the harm described. The more specifically the risks are identified, the more useful the clause will be as a defence.
The release and waiver clause sets out the scope of the claims being released. Critically, the clause must not attempt to exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by the Releasee's negligence, as this is void under UCTA s.2(1). The release should explicitly carve out such claims. A well-drafted release clause will also include a Consumer Rights Act saving provision for consumer participants.
The consideration clause establishes the basis on which the Releasor is signing the release. In most activity contexts, the consideration is the permission to participate in the activity. The clause confirms that the Releasor has received adequate consideration, which is necessary for the release to be enforceable as a simple contract.
The emergency medical authorisation clause is a practical provision that authorises the Releasee to obtain emergency medical treatment on the Releasor's behalf if the Releasor is incapacitated during the activity. This is not legally required, but it is important from a safety management perspective. Emergency contact details should be included alongside this clause.
The rules compliance clause records the Releasor's agreement to follow all safety rules and instructions, which is relevant both to the Releasee's duty under the Occupiers' Liability Acts and to any subsequent contributory negligence assessment.
The governing law and jurisdiction clause should specify England and Wales as the governing law, confirming the release is construed by reference to the correct legal framework.
Additional compliance elements for a Release of Liability Form (England & Wales) used in United Kingdom include: Under UK law, the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 govern personal data in this document. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects individuals in consumer transactions. Section 62 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 addresses unfair terms. The County Court and High Court of Justice have jurisdiction over personal disputes under the Senior Courts Act 1981 and the County Courts Act 1984. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) enforces data protection. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for United Kingdom-compliant documentation.
Cite this page
Reference this free template in an article, syllabus, or research note:
Forms Legal. (2026). Release of Liability Form (England & Wales) (United Kingdom) [Legal document template]. Forms Legal. https://forms-legal.com/uk/personal/releases/release-of-liability-form-uk
"Release of Liability Form (England & Wales) (United Kingdom)." Forms Legal, 2026, https://forms-legal.com/uk/personal/releases/release-of-liability-form-uk.
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title = {Release of Liability Form (England & Wales) (United Kingdom)},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://forms-legal.com/uk/personal/releases/release-of-liability-form-uk}},
note = {Free legal document template. Based on Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977}
}Also available for these jurisdictions:
Frequently Asked Questions
A release of liability can be enforceable in England and Wales, but its validity is subject to important statutory limitations. The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 (UCTA) provides that a business cannot exclude or restrict its liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence (section 2(1)). Any clause purporting to do so is void and of no effect. Liability for other loss or damage caused by negligence (for example, property damage) can only be excluded if the exclusion satisfies the reasonableness test set out in section 11 and Schedule 2 of UCTA. Where the Releasor is a consumer (an individual not acting in the course of a business), the Consumer Rights Act 2015 applies additional protections: terms must be fair and transparent, and unfair terms are not binding on the consumer. A well-drafted release that complies with UCTA and the Consumer Rights Act, is clearly worded, was drawn to the participant's attention before they signed, and does not exclude liability for negligence causing death or personal injury can be effective to waive claims arising from the inherent and voluntary risks of the activity.
Volenti non fit injuria is a Latin maxim meaning 'to one who consents, no harm is done'. It is a complete defence in tort law available to a defendant where the claimant voluntarily and freely agreed to accept the legal risk of harm. In the context of activity releases and waivers, the defence can apply where a participant who fully understood the risks involved in a dangerous or inherently risky activity freely consented to participate and accepted those risks. However, the defence has a high threshold: it is not enough that the claimant merely knew of the risk; they must have freely and genuinely consented to the legal risk of the harm actually suffered. The courts have held that the defence does not apply to negligence claims in many employment and road traffic contexts. Where a participant has signed a well-drafted release form that clearly sets out the risks being assumed, that document will be strong evidence in support of a volenti defence. The defence operates alongside, but is distinct from, contributory negligence under the Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945, which can reduce (but not extinguish) a claimant's damages where they contributed to their own harm.
Activity organisers who are also occupiers of the premises where the activity takes place owe duties under the Occupiers' Liability Acts 1957 and 1984. Under the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957, an occupier owes a 'common duty of care' to all lawful visitors, which is a duty to take such care as in all the circumstances is reasonable to see that the visitor will be reasonably safe in using the premises for the purposes for which they were invited. This duty cannot be discharged merely because a visitor has signed a waiver: the 1957 Act provides that an occupier cannot restrict, modify, or exclude the common duty of care except in so far as UCTA permits. Under the Occupiers' Liability Act 1984, occupiers also owe a more limited duty to trespassers and persons who enter the land without permission, where the occupier knows or has reasonable grounds to believe a danger exists and that the person may be in the vicinity. These statutory duties underpin the legal framework within which activity release forms operate, and they are why a release cannot simply waive all liability for all injuries sustained on the occupier's premises.
Parental releases on behalf of minor children remain an area of significant legal uncertainty in England and Wales. Unlike in some other jurisdictions, there is no clear authority in English law establishing that a parent's execution of a release form on behalf of a minor child binds that child or bars the child from bringing a claim after reaching the age of 18. The Limitation Act 1980 provides that the limitation period for a minor's personal injury claim does not begin to run until the minor reaches the age of 18 (section 28). This means that even if a parent signed a release on behalf of their child, the child could potentially bring a claim for personal injury up to three years after turning 18 (i.e. until age 21). The courts have not definitively ruled on whether a parent can effectively waive a minor's future legal claims, and there is persuasive authority suggesting that the courts would be very reluctant to enforce such a waiver. Activity organisers should obtain specialist legal advice if they wish to include minor participants in activities involving significant risk of personal injury, and should not rely solely on a release signed by a parent or guardian to protect against all claims.
A release of liability is a formal contractual document signed by both parties in which the Releasor agrees, in advance of the activity, to release the Releasee from specified claims arising from the activity. It is a bilateral agreement and, to be enforceable as a contract, must be supported by consideration. A disclaimer notice (also known as an exclusion notice) is a unilateral statement displayed or communicated by the Releasee, typically on a sign, ticket, website, or terms and conditions document, seeking to limit or exclude the Releasee's liability. For a disclaimer notice to be incorporated into the contract between the parties, it must have been brought to the other party's attention before or at the time of contracting. Notices displayed after the contract has been formed (for example, a sign displayed inside a venue that a visitor did not see until they entered) will generally not be effective. Both releases and disclaimer notices are subject to the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 and the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which impose limits on the extent to which liability for negligence and breach of contract can be excluded or restricted.
A release of liability executed as a simple contract (as opposed to a deed) does not legally require a witness in England and Wales. A simple contract requires offer, acceptance, consideration, and the intention to create legal relations. A signature is evidence of acceptance, but witnessing is not a legal requirement for a simple contract to be binding. However, having the Releasor's signature witnessed by an independent third party (who is not a party to the document) is strongly recommended for evidential purposes: if the enforceability of the release is later challenged (for example, on the ground that the Releasor did not read or understand it, or that their signature was forged), a witness who can attest to the circumstances of signing provides important supporting evidence. If the release is to be executed as a deed (which does not require consideration), it must comply with the formalities under section 1 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989: it must be in writing, signed by the party as a deed, and witnessed by a person who is present at the time of signing.
This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.Full disclaimer
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