What Are Common Client Concerns in Release Forms?
A release form is a legal document stating that one party gives up certain claims or rights in exchange for payment, activity participation or information, while understanding the risks involved. Before signing it, people need to fully understand it, especially because our data has found that clients usually have some common concerns during the review process.
ContractsCounsel, an online legal marketplace where lawyers connect with clients for agreement drafting and review, has found that the most common concerns clients have about release forms include scope and understanding of risks, enforceability, legal language, liability protection, and promised benefits.
In this article, we cover all the leading concerns and show how a legal review can help.
Note: Our research comes from real yet anonymized project data on the ContractsCounsel platform, where people hire lawyers to review their release forms.
Scope and Understanding of Risks
Concern 1: A leading concern for clients is what rights they’re giving up and what risks will be covered, so everything is clear without any ambiguity.
How lawyers help: Attorneys will clarify all terms regarding activities and liability. They’ll ensure all clauses are specific instead of vague.
Enforceability and Legal Language
Concern 2: Clients want reassurance that the release form is legally sound and valid. If there is complex legal language that’s confusing, this can be a red flag.
How lawyers help: Lawyers ensure that the release form is enforceable and compliant. They’ll break down the legal language and make sure every clause is easy to understand.
Protection from Unexpected Liabilities
Concern 3: Before signing the release form, clients worry that there could be hidden responsibilities that fall on their shoulders or that they will be inadvertently signing away protections.
How lawyers help: Attorneys check for hidden clauses that result in excessive risk for one party. This serves to protect everyone involved.
Waiver of Rights to Promised Benefits
Concern 4: It’s common for clients to worry that they might give up specific benefits, such as in terms of reimbursement or severance pay.
How lawyers help: A legal review by a contract or employment lawyer ensures that all benefits are maintained. They’ll adjust the agreement language so that clients won’t fall into the trap of forfeiting benefits by accident.
Adequacy of Coverage and Responsibilities
Concern 5: The release form needs to meet all financial, medical, and other responsibilities. Some clients might have uncertainty about this.
How lawyers help: Attorneys check the release form against expectations and that all responsibilities after signing it are clearly defined.
Key Takeaways
- Our research shows that clients’ leading concerns include enforceability, waiver of rights, and complex legal language.
- Legal language needs to be clarified to avoid confusion and disputes.
- Getting a legal review keeps the release form balanced and valid to meet both parties’ needs.
- Working with a lawyer ensures you understand all risks and other clauses before signing the release form.
Need help with your release form?
You can post your release form review projects for free on ContractsCounsel, where lawyers help clients review and draft release forms on a daily basis.
