Overview

At one point or another, nearly every small business owner will encounter a release of liability form. In fact, it’s one of the most common legal contracts for both business and personal purposes. But what’s the point?

Also known as a “hold harmless agreement,” a release of liability waiver protects you and your business, as well as your relationships with your clients and business partners. With Bizee’s lawyer-approved legal documents, you can be sure your business is protected. Read on to learn everything you need to know about filling out a release of liability template.

What Is a Release of Liability Form?

A release of liability form is an agreement between two or more parties to waive a potential legal claim. Using one protects you against lawsuits through proactive terms. Using one is simple, as long as you keep a few key things in mind. Our Release of Liability template is easy to use and available whenever your company needs it.

Who Should Use a Release of Liability Waiver?

Don’t be intimidated by the name: Simply put, a general release of liability form is simple to use and can help protect you. By signing it, everyone agrees not to enforce legal action about something that could otherwise possibly go to court. A releasor is the person who agrees to release the liability claim and the releasee is the party being released from the potential claim.

Many different types of businesses use a release of liability waiver, regardless of the size. Whether you’re running a local salon or a construction company, knowing how and when to use a release of liability waiver will help protect you and your business.

These days, release waivers are being used more often and in ways they weren’t before, like when visiting an open house, attending a concert or by companies affected by COVID-19. Bizee provides this as well as many other business contract templates to protect your business.

When Should I Use a Release of Liability Form?

Anytime the possibility of being sued is present, it’s a good idea to use a release of liability form. If you’re handling someone’s property, offering a service or conducting any other service that could go wrong and prompt someone to take legal action against you, a release of liability form will add protection to you and your business.

What’s a General Release of Liability Form Used For?

A release of liability form template helps protect you and your business against lawsuits, especially in litigious circumstances. This could be something as seemingly simple as selling a car or as complex as a travel accident. The easiest way to guard against an unwanted legal recourse is to have this form on hand.

Risk. Commercial businesses often use a release of liability form for customers who are partaking in recreational activities like ziplining or horseback riding. But even nonprofits, schools and religious establishments may use one for trips or events.

Sales. Some states require a release of liability waiver when selling a car, motorcycle or boat. Even if it’s not required in your state, signing one offers you extra coverage in the event that the buyer gets in an accident.

Releases. Even information or image release forms fall under this category. This could include releasing sensitive or confidential information to a third party, such as medical or financial information. Some businesses use an image release form for advertisements depicting people or when filming.

Accidents. In some circumstances, a release of liability form is signed as a preventative measure before an anticipated event or agreement. Other times, it actually comes after the fact. This is the case with accidents; often a release of further liability is signed after a payment for injury or damage has been made.

Work and exchanges. Hiring a contractor for a renovation or repair on your business or home? You’ll want a mechanic’s lien release form. Hiring a babysitter or loaning dangerous tools to a neighbor? All of these circumstances and others call for a reliable release of liability form.

What a Release of Liability Form Should Include

Basic elements of a release of liability form should include some specifics that you won’t want to miss. Make sure key items like dates, names and definitions are clear to all parties involved. Print out enough copies of the agreement for all parties. For extra protection, if necessary, check or request a copy of the legal IDs of all parties.

There are lots of subcategories for liability waivers, but a general release of liability form should include:

Is a Release of Liability Form Right for You?

Here are some guidelines to consider when deciding if a general release of liability waiver is right for you:

Does your business offer physical activities to customers?

Recreation companies that offer rafting, hiking, ziplining or many other types of activities frequently use this release.

Do you organize events where participants will be in close proximity to one another?

Festivals, concerts and events that attract a large group of people in a small space will want to consider one for health and injury purposes.

Are you overseeing an organization where volunteers handle equipment?

Issuing a release form to volunteers or employees who might be moving furniture or handling machinery will protect your organization.

Is traveling required for your employees or offered to your customers?

Requiring employees to travel in cars or on public transportation puts them at risk of an accident, which means you’ll want the protection of a release form.

Is there any risk of your customers, employees or volunteers getting injured?

Consider various other situations where employees, contractors, volunteers or customers can leave you vulnerable to legal recourse without the protection of a release of liability waiver.

Some Limitations to Consider

Though a release of liability waiver is a standard, effective and affordable way to ensure extra legal protection for your business, remember that this does not absolve you of responsibility. A release of liability waiver won’t protect you from negligence on your business’s behalf, but it will help if the releasee was injured to no fault of your own.

Another important aspect is that each state enforces liability waivers differently, so look into your own state’s laws and use our template to customize it to your unique needs.

Remember that whether your industry is in travel, recreation, construction or any other small business niche, a release of liability form will help protect you against damaging claims.

Bizee provides dozens of other helpful forms and documents that can launch, sustain and protect your business, including the most essential contracts right now. View our template library to explore all of your options, and download our release of liability template.