9+ Settlement & Release Agreement Templates – PDF, Word
Most disputes are taken to court. This can be too costly for both parties. Trials can possibly go for weeks and months. The drama might escalate as the dispute gets too personal. Intrigues, rumors, and gossips thrive well in a short span of time. There is a pressing need to settle all of this in court to put an end to everything. You may also see settlement agreement templates.
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Some disputes are settled outside of court. Sometimes, there is no need for the dispute to be taken to court for some reason. A settlement and release agreement is needed for this kind of situation. One party offers to settle the dispute outside the court and the other party agrees to it by paying a certain amount of money. Both sides are bound to give and get something in this agreement samples.
Agreement Template Bundle
Settlement Agreement
Release Agreement Template
Settlement and Mutual Release Agreement Sample
Settlement and Release Agreement Template
Claims Settlement Agreement Example
Things To Include In Drafting A Settlement And Release Agreement
A settlement and release agreement contains as much details as other agreement samples. It has some terms that need to be defined and laid out before signing them. While the agreement can be modified depending on the situations, the following details should never be missing:
1. Identification of the parties.
The names of the disputing parties are identified. It also includes their information such as address and their present jobs. The party getting the release and granting the release should be identified as well. Their nicknames are sometimes included for their reference in the whole document. You may also see sample settlement agreement templates.
2. Brief description.
The dispute is described as to its reason, how it happened when it happened, and the implications after the dispute started. It should be a clear and honest account of everything that happened. You might end up getting questioned when there are loopholes in your story. Tell the story according to your perspective without any bias. You may also see settlement agreements.
3. What both are set to do.
The one granting the release sets up a condition wherein he gets paid a certain amount of money in lieu of giving up using a case against the other party, or what they call consideration. It is usually in monetary form. The amount should be clear and specific. This makes the agreement valid and enforceable to both parties. Sometimes, the consideration is an act to be performed by the other party rather than money. This is a matter of discipline than money. You may also see confidentiality settlement agreement templates.
4. What the release applies to.
The release would be of so much worth when it applies to all claims that arise from the dispute, including what happens after it. This is pretty much common in every settlement and releases agreement. You may also see divorce agreement templates.
5. Binding statement.
In this kind of agreement, a binding statement binds the two parties in complying with what the agreement says. The agreement always ends up binding people in any way. It becomes more binding when both parties agree to it. You may also see sample divorce agreements.
6. Date signed and signature.
The date the agreement was signed and the signature are not missing in the document. If you have trust issues with the other party, having a witness see when you sign the agreement is a good thing to do. The other party might claim he did not sign the agreement and the witness can rebut it by saying he saw everything. That way, the other party would have no way out and be bound by the agreement. You may also see sample legal agreement templates.
Settlement and Release Agreement Sample
Settlement Agreement Template Sample
Mutual Release and Settlement Agreement Example
Settlement and Release Agreement Format
How The Agreement Works
A settlement and sample release agreement is formed to settle dispute. However, it is not formed in the easiest way possible. There are certain things that just add up conflict as to how this agreement works in the first place.
First is the formation of the contract. It is formed when an offer is accepted by the other party. It also makes the agreement binding. One must give up something of value in exchange for the lawsuit not being filed against him. This is called the consideration. The settlement comes with paying monetary charges most of the time. The offer stays open and can be up for rejection when the person making the offer says it expires at a given time. The initial offer gets ejected when the other party makes a counter-offer to his favor. You may also see seperation agreement samples.
Negotiations usually exist in this kind of setup. Parties involved in a lawsuit negotiate back and forth before coming up with a settlement. The monetary amount for paying the consideration can go up and down. For example, when the plaintiff asks to be paid $10,000 but the defendant counters the offer by paying $5,000. It could get worse when the plaintiff decides to lower the monetary payment and the defendant offers a lower amount. It takes a longer time than usual for both parties to come to terms with the right kind of agreement. You may also see written business agreements.
The agreement can be revoked when the defendant does not respond to the settlement offer. This saves time for the plaintiff to wait for an indefinite time for a decision to happen. However, the offer would not be revoked when it is open for a specific time. The contract law allows someone making the offer to revoke it when it is not accepted. You may also see sample money agreement templates.
It is much wiser when the ground for settling the dispute and the agreement that comes with it is put in formal writing. This is a clearer and more solid proof that an agreement has taken place. It is more binding when it has signatures attached to it. Even if the agreement is in moral terms, it can still be effective when both parties agree to it. Another benefit of putting this agreement into writing is to avoid further disputes in the future regarding the terms of the agreement. You may also see severance agreement templates.
Settlement Agreement and General Release Sample
Settlement and General Release Agreement Document
Conclusion
Settling disputes outside of court is stressful and much more dramatic than when it is done on the court. While it is cheaper than having a court trial, you have to be patient enough to wait for responses and have a sharper mind when negotiating how much you want to pay or get paid. You may also see printable loan agreement templates.