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General Release of Liability

General Release of Liability

This General Release of Liability (the "Release") is entered into and made effective as of EFFECTIVE DATE by and between:

RELEASOR NAME, with a mailing address at RELEASOR ADDRESS, email: RELEASOR EMAIL, phone: RELEASOR PHONE (hereinafter referred to as the "Releasor"); and

RELEASEE NAME, with a mailing address at RELEASEE ADDRESS, email: RELEASEE EMAIL, phone: RELEASEE PHONE (hereinafter referred to as the "Releasee").

The Releasor and Releasee are collectively referred to herein as the "Parties."

RECITALS

WHEREAS, on or about INCIDENT DATE, an incident, event, or circumstance occurred which is described as follows: INCIDENT DESCRIPTION (hereinafter referred to as the "Incident");

WHEREAS, the Releasor may have claims, demands, causes of action, or rights arising from or related to the Incident against the Releasee;

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to fully and finally resolve and settle any and all claims, disputes, and causes of action arising from or related to the Incident;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the sum of CONSIDERATION, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

1. RELEASE OF CLAIMS

The Releasor, on behalf of himself/herself and his/her heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns, hereby fully and forever releases, discharges, and holds harmless the Releasee, together with the Releasee's heirs, executors, administrators, successors, assigns, agents, employees, officers, directors, shareholders, and representatives, from any and all claims, demands, damages, actions, causes of action, suits, costs, expenses, attorneys' fees, and liabilities of every kind and nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which the Releasor now has, has ever had, or may hereafter have, arising out of, relating to, or in any way connected with the Incident that occurred on INCIDENT DATE.

2. CONSIDERATION

In exchange for the release set forth herein, the Releasee agrees to pay the Releasor the sum of CONSIDERATION (the "Settlement Amount"). Payment shall be made by [Payment Method]. The Releasor acknowledges that the Settlement Amount is adequate consideration for the release of all claims described herein and that the Releasor accepts such amount in full and final satisfaction of any and all claims against the Releasee arising from the Incident.

3. NO ADMISSION OF LIABILITY

The Parties understand and agree that this Release is a compromise and settlement of disputed claims and shall not be construed as an admission of liability or wrongdoing by either Party. The Releasee expressly denies any liability or wrongdoing in connection with the Incident.

4. COVENANT NOT TO SUE

The Releasor covenants and agrees not to file, commence, prosecute, or cause to be filed any action, suit, or proceeding of any kind against the Releasee or any of the released parties with respect to any claim, demand, or cause of action released herein. If the Releasor breaches this covenant, the Releasor shall be liable for all damages, costs, and attorneys' fees incurred by the Releasee in defending such action.

5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Releasor represents and warrants that: (a) the Releasor is the sole owner of the claims released herein; (b) no portion of such claims has been assigned or transferred to any other person or entity; (c) the Releasor has full authority to execute this Release; and (d) the Releasor has read this Release in its entirety, understands its terms and conditions, and executes it voluntarily and without coercion.

6. NOTICES

All notices required or permitted under this Release shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given when: (a) delivered personally; (b) sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (c) sent by email with confirmation of receipt, to the addresses set forth above or to such other address as either Party may designate in writing.

7. GOVERNING LAW

This Release shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of [Governing Law], without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Release shall be brought exclusively in the courts of the State of [Governing Law].

8. SEVERABILITY

If any provision of this Release is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

9. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Release constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous negotiations, representations, warranties, and agreements between the Parties, whether oral or written. This Release may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except by a written instrument duly executed by both Parties.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this General Release of Liability as of the Effective Date first written above.

RELEASOR:

Name: RELEASOR NAME

Date: [Releasor Sign Date]

RELEASEE:

Name: RELEASEE NAME

Date: [Releasee Sign Date]

Party 1

________________

Signature

Date: ________________

Party 2

________________

Signature

Date: ________________

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What Is a General Release of Liability?

A General Release of Liability in the United States waives defined claims, preventing the releasing party from pursuing them later. It records the rental price, deposit, term, maintenance duties, and notice periods between landlord and tenant.

General releases are distinguishable from limited or partial releases, which only discharge specific claims while preserving the right to pursue others. Many states have statutes that affect the scope of general releases — for example, California Civil Code Section 1542 provides that a general release does not extend to claims unknown to the releasor at the time of execution unless the releasor specifically waives this protection. Similar protections exist under the laws of other states, making it essential that the release explicitly address both known and unknown claims.

The enforceability of a general release depends on adequate consideration (something of value exchanged), mutual assent, and the absence of fraud, duress, or undue influence. Courts will scrutinize releases that are unconscionable, obtained under coercion, or that attempt to release liability for intentional torts or gross negligence, which are void as against public policy in most jurisdictions.

When Do You Need a General Release of Liability?

A general release of liability is most commonly used to finalize settlement agreements between disputing parties. When a personal injury claim is resolved — whether through negotiation, mediation, or pre-trial settlement — the defendant's insurance company will require the injured party to sign a general release before disbursing settlement funds. This ensures the claimant cannot reopen the matter or file additional lawsuits related to the same incident.

Businesses use general releases when terminating employees, particularly in severance or separation agreements where the departing employee receives compensation in exchange for releasing all employment-related claims, including those under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the ADA, and the ADEA. For employees over 40, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (29 U.S.C. Section 626) imposes specific requirements — including a 21-day consideration period and a 7-day revocation period — for the release to be valid.

Other common scenarios include resolving landlord-tenant disputes at the end of a lease, settling insurance claims after property damage, finalizing business dissolution where partners release each other from ongoing obligations, resolving construction defect claims between homeowners and contractors, and ending commercial relationships where both parties want a clean break without lingering legal exposure. General releases are also used in real estate transactions to resolve title defects or boundary disputes.

What to Include in Your General Release of Liability

The identification of parties must include the full legal names and addresses of both the releasor (the person giving up claims) and the releasee (the person being released from liability). The release should also specify whether it extends to the releasee's affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, successors, and assigns — a provision that prevents the releasor from pursuing claims against individuals associated with the releasee.

The recitals section should describe the underlying incident, dispute, or relationship giving rise to the release, providing enough factual context to identify the subject matter without admitting fault. The scope of release must clearly state whether the release covers all claims (known and unknown, foreseen and unforeseen) or is limited to specific claims, and should include an explicit waiver of protections like California Civil Code Section 1542 or equivalent state provisions regarding unknown claims.

The consideration clause must identify what the releasor is receiving in exchange for the release — typically a monetary payment, but potentially including non-monetary benefits such as a favorable reference, continued insurance coverage, or mutual release of claims. Without adequate consideration, the release is unenforceable. The document should include a covenant not to sue (the releasor's promise not to file any future lawsuits on released claims), a no-admission clause (stating that the release does not constitute an admission of liability by either party), representations that the releasor is signing voluntarily without coercion, confidentiality provisions regarding the settlement terms, and a governing law clause. Both parties must sign, and notarization is recommended for releases involving significant claims or real property.

Sources & Citations

Statutory citations link to official government sources.

  1. ADAUS – Cornell LII
  2. ADEAUS – Cornell LII
  3. Title VII of the Civil Rights ActUS – Cornell LII

Cite this page

Reference this free template in an article, syllabus, or research note:

APA

Forms Legal. (2026). General Release of Liability (United States) [Legal document template]. Forms Legal. https://forms-legal.com/usa/personal/releases/general-release-of-liability

MLA

"General Release of Liability (United States)." Forms Legal, 2026, https://forms-legal.com/usa/personal/releases/general-release-of-liability.

BibTeX
@misc{formslegal-general-release-of-liability,
  author       = {{Forms Legal}},
  title        = {General Release of Liability (United States)},
  year         = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://forms-legal.com/usa/personal/releases/general-release-of-liability}},
  note         = {Free legal document template. Based on common-law assumption of risk and contract principles (Restatement (Second) of Contracts)}
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on common-law assumption of risk and contract principles (Restatement (Second) of Contracts) — Template last modified June 2026

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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