Release of Liability Form: Free Template & Guide (2026)

August 13, 2026

A release of liability form is an agreement used to document that a person understands certain risks and agrees to release another person, business, or organization from specified claims or liabilities.

These forms are commonly used by gyms, fitness studios, sports organizations, camps, rental businesses, event organizers, adventure activity providers, and other businesses where customers may be exposed to physical, property, or activity-related risks.

You may also see a release of liability form called a:

Liability release form
Liability waiver
Waiver and release of liability
Release and waiver form
Release of claims
Assumption of risk and release form

Although these terms are often used interchangeably, the exact meaning and legal effect of a document depends on its wording, purpose, and applicable law.

In this guide, we explain what a release of liability form is, when businesses use one, what it should include, how it differs from a liability waiver, and how to create one online.

You can also use the free release of liability example below as a starting point for your own form.

Important: This article provides general information only and is not legal advice. Liability and waiver laws vary by jurisdiction, industry, and circumstance. Businesses with significant liability exposure should consider having their forms reviewed by a qualified local attorney.

What is a release of liability form?

A release of liability form is an agreement in which one party agrees to release another party from specified legal claims or liability.

In an activity-based business, the form may be signed before a customer participates.

For example, someone joining a climbing session may be asked to sign a release acknowledging risks such as:

Falling
Slipping
Equipment-related injuries
Collisions with other participants
Muscle strains
Fractures
Other injuries associated with climbing

The participant reviews the risks, agrees to participate voluntarily, and signs the form before taking part.

Businesses often use a release together with an assumption of risk clause, where the participant confirms that they understand the potential risks associated with the activity.

A release of liability form can help create a clear written record of:

Who participated
What activity the agreement covered
What risks were disclosed
What terms the participant agreed to
When the agreement was signed
Who provided the signature

A release does not necessarily protect a business from every possible claim. Its effectiveness depends on the circumstances, wording, applicable law, and the type of conduct involved.

What is the purpose of a release of liability?

The purpose of a release of liability is to document how certain risks and potential claims are allocated between the parties.

For an activity provider, a release can help demonstrate that the participant:

Received information about the activity.
Was informed about relevant risks.
Chose to participate voluntarily.
Accepted specified risks.
Agreed to the release terms.
Signed the document before participating.

This can be useful if an accident, injury, property loss, or disagreement happens later.

However, a release should not be treated as a substitute for proper safety practices.

Businesses should still take reasonable steps such as:

Maintaining equipment
Training staff
Following applicable safety standards
Providing instructions
Carrying appropriate insurance
Documenting incidents
Reviewing their procedures regularly

A signed form is typically one part of a broader risk-management process.

Release of liability vs liability waiver

The terms release of liability and liability waiver are commonly used to describe similar documents.

In many recreational and service businesses, the same agreement contains both waiver and release language.

There can still be a practical distinction.

Liability waiver

A liability waiver is commonly signed before an activity or service.

The participant typically:

Acknowledges potential risks
Accepts those risks
Agrees to waive certain claims

For example, a participant may sign a gym liability waiver before attending training sessions.

Release of liability

A release of liability can also be used before an activity, but the term may be used more broadly.

A release might relate to:

Participation in an activity
Property damage
An accident
A settlement
A dispute
Equipment use
Another potential claim

Because the terminology overlaps, many documents are simply called:

Waiver and Release of Liability

For activity-based businesses, the exact title is usually less important than having clear language describing the risks, parties, activity, and release terms.

When should you use a release of liability form?

A release of liability may be appropriate when someone voluntarily participates in an activity, uses equipment, attends an event, or receives a service that involves identifiable risks.

Here are some common examples.

Gyms and fitness studios

Gyms frequently ask members or visitors to sign a waiver before using equipment or taking part in classes.

Depending on the business, you might use a:

These forms may cover physical exertion, equipment use, accidental injuries, and participation-related risks.

Sports activities

Sports clubs, leagues, camps, coaches, and competition organizers often collect waivers before allowing participation.

A sports waiver form can help document:

Participant details
Injury risks
Medical information
Emergency contacts
Participant acknowledgement
Parent or guardian consent
Signature

Businesses running general recreational activities can also use a participation waiver form.

Yoga and group fitness

Physical activity can involve strains, falls, aggravation of existing injuries, or other health-related risks.

Studios can use activity-specific forms such as:

Using a form tailored to the specific activity is generally more useful than using generic language that does not match the service being offered.

Martial arts

Martial arts activities may involve falls, physical contact, strenuous exercise, sparring, and equipment.

Businesses in this category can use:

These forms can describe the risks associated with training and document participant acknowledgement before classes begin.

Adventure and recreational activities

Release forms are particularly common for businesses offering activities with an obvious risk of injury.

Examples include:

Each activity presents different risks, so the form should be adapted accordingly.

Rental businesses

Rental businesses may need agreements covering both participant safety and responsibility for equipment.

Depending on what is being rented, you might use:

A rental form may address:

Proper equipment use
Damage
Loss
Theft
Personal injury
Responsibility for returning equipment
Safety instructions

Events and parties

Some organized events involve sports, attractions, equipment, or other activities where additional risk is present.

Event organizers may use:

The appropriate form depends on what attendees will actually be doing.

Summer camps and youth programs

Activities involving minors require additional consideration.

A summer camp liability waiver may include:

Child information
Parent or guardian information
Emergency contacts
Medical details
Activity acknowledgement
Consent
Parent or guardian signature

Rules relating to waivers signed on behalf of minors can vary significantly by jurisdiction, so businesses serving children should pay particular attention to local requirements.

Volunteer organizations

Organizations coordinating volunteer activities may also want participants to acknowledge risks.

A volunteer liability waiver can help document what the volunteer is participating in and the terms they have accepted.

What should a release of liability form include?

There is no single release form that works for every business.

A good release should match the actual activity, risks, parties, and circumstances involved.

Most forms include the following sections.

1. Participant details

Start by clearly identifying the person signing the form.

You might collect:

Full name
Email address
Phone number
Address
Date of birth
Emergency contact

Only collect information that is relevant to the activity and appropriate under applicable privacy rules.

2. Business or organization details

The form should clearly identify the organization providing the activity or service.

Include information such as:

Business name
Location
Activity provider
Relevant staff or instructors
Contact information

The release language may also identify additional parties covered by the agreement, such as employees, contractors, owners, or affiliates.

3. Description of the activity

Explain what the person is participating in.

Avoid overly generic descriptions.

Instead of:

Participation in recreational activities.

Use something more specific, such as:

Participation in indoor rock climbing, bouldering, climbing instruction, use of climbing equipment, and related activities at the facility.

Specific wording helps the participant understand exactly what the agreement covers.

4. Acknowledgement of risks

The form should describe risks that are relevant to the activity.

For example, a bike rental waiver could mention:

Falls
Traffic accidents
Collisions
Uneven surfaces
Equipment malfunction
Weather conditions
Injuries to the rider or third parties

A yoga studio would likely describe completely different risks.

Avoid copying risk language from an unrelated business simply because it came from another waiver.

5. Assumption of risk

An assumption of risk section records that the participant:

Understands the risks
Chooses to participate
Accepts specified risks associated with the activity

This section is particularly common in sports, fitness, recreation, and adventure activities.

6. Release of liability

The release clause is one of the most important parts of the document.

It should identify:

Who is being released
What claims are covered
What activity the release relates to
Any relevant limitations

Because release language can have significant legal consequences, businesses should avoid assuming that broad language automatically provides greater protection.

Clear and appropriately tailored wording is generally preferable.

7. Safety rules and participant responsibilities

Some businesses include a section requiring participants to:

Follow staff instructions
Use equipment correctly
Follow safety procedures
Report injuries
Stop participating if they feel unsafe
Avoid participating while impaired
Use required protective equipment

These terms should reflect the actual rules of the business.

8. Medical information

For physical activities, businesses may need relevant health information.

Depending on the service, this might include:

Current injuries
Medical conditions
Allergies
Medications
Pregnancy
Emergency contact information

Only request information that is reasonably necessary.

9. Emergency medical authorization

Some activities include a section allowing emergency medical care to be arranged if the participant becomes injured or unable to provide instructions themselves.

This is particularly common for:

Camps
Sports
Youth programs
Adventure activities
Travel-related activities

10. Parent or guardian consent

If a participant is a minor, the form may require information and authorization from a parent or legal guardian.

This can include:

Minor's name
Date of birth
Parent or guardian name
Relationship to participant
Consent acknowledgement
Parent or guardian signature

Again, rules surrounding minors differ by location.

11. Acknowledgement of the agreement

Before the signature, include a clear statement confirming that the signer has reviewed and agrees to the form.

For example:

I confirm that I have read and understood this agreement and voluntarily agree to its terms.

Important terms should be presented clearly rather than hidden inside unrelated text.

12. Signature and date

Finish by recording:

Participant name
Electronic or handwritten signature
Date signed
Parent or guardian signature where applicable

A good signing process should make it easy to determine who signed the agreement and when.

How to create a release of liability form online

A release of liability does not need to be printed, signed by hand, scanned, and stored in a filing cabinet.

A digital form can make the process considerably easier.

Here is a typical workflow.

Step 1: Start with a liability waiver template

Rather than creating everything from scratch, start with an existing liability waiver form.

You can then adapt it to your business and activity.

Step 2: Add your business information

Include your:

Business name
Contact details
Activity
Location
Relevant policies

Make it clear which business or organization the participant is entering into the agreement with.

Step 3: Describe the activity

Explain exactly what customers will be doing.

The more closely the description matches your real service, the easier it is for participants to understand the agreement.

Step 4: Customize the risks

Add risks that relate specifically to your activity.

For example:

Climbing: falls, equipment use, collisions.
Boat rental: water conditions, drowning risk, collisions, weather.
Personal training: physical exertion, strains, falls.
Horse riding: falls, unpredictable animal behavior, equipment.
Avoid filling your form with risks that have nothing to do with your service.

Step 5: Add the fields you need

Depending on the business, your form might collect:

Contact details
Date of birth
Emergency contact
Medical details
Checkbox acknowledgements
Consent
Electronic signature

Keep the form focused on information you genuinely need.

Step 6: Add an acknowledgement checkbox

Before signing, participants can confirm that they have read and understood the agreement.

For example:

I have read and understood this release of liability and voluntarily agree to its terms.

Step 7: Add an electronic signature

The participant can sign directly online instead of printing the document.

This makes it possible to complete the release:

Before arriving
From a phone
From a tablet
At reception
Through a shared link

Step 8: Share the form

Once the release is ready, you can send it to participants before their activity.

Digital forms can be shared using:

A direct link
Email
Your website
A QR code
A tablet at your location

A QR code is particularly useful for walk-in businesses because customers can scan it and sign from their own phones.

Step 9: Store completed releases

Signed releases should be easy to find later.

Instead of filing paper forms manually, a digital system allows you to keep completed forms together and search for the correct participant when necessary.

With AgreeDock, you can create digital liability waivers, collect electronic signatures, share forms by link or QR code, and keep signed documents organized online.

Create a liability waiver form

Are electronic release of liability forms valid?

Electronic signatures are widely used for agreements, waivers, consent forms, and other business documents.

Whether an electronic release is legally enforceable depends on applicable law and the circumstances surrounding the agreement.

From a practical standpoint, a digital waiver system should make it possible to retain a record of:

The agreement presented to the participant
The participant's information
The signature
The signing date
The completed form

Electronic forms can also make the signing process more consistent because every participant receives the same version of the document.

Are release of liability forms legally binding?

A release of liability can be legally enforceable, but no form automatically guarantees protection from every claim.

Enforceability may depend on factors such as:

Applicable laws
The wording of the agreement
Whether the terms are understandable
Whether the participant knowingly agreed
How the form was presented
The activity involved
The type of claim
The conduct that caused the injury or loss

Certain types of liability may not be legally waivable in some jurisdictions.

This is why businesses should avoid thinking of a release as a document that simply removes all liability.

A better approach is to use:

Clear agreements + appropriate insurance + good safety procedures + proper documentation.

Can you still sue after signing a release of liability?

Signing a release does not necessarily make it impossible for someone to bring a lawsuit.

Whether the release affects a particular claim depends on factors including:

What the form actually says
What risk caused the injury
Whether that risk was covered by the agreement
Applicable law
How the agreement was presented
The conduct of the business

This is another reason businesses should use clear, activity-specific language rather than relying on a generic one-paragraph waiver copied from the internet.

Does a release of liability need to be notarized?

Many everyday activity waivers and releases are signed without notarization.

However, requirements can vary depending on:

Jurisdiction
Document type
Transaction
Organization
Circumstances

A gym waiver, for example, is typically very different from a release used as part of a major legal settlement.

Check the requirements that apply to your particular situation if notarization may be relevant.

How long does a release of liability last?

There is no universal duration that applies to every release form.

How long an agreement remains relevant can depend on:

The wording of the document
The activity
Whether the service changes
Whether the participant relationship changes
Applicable law

Some businesses collect a new waiver:

Every visit
Every event
Every season
Annually
When terms change
When new activities are introduced

The appropriate approach depends on the business and local requirements.

Release of liability examples by industry

A release of liability form should be adapted to the activity.

Here are some examples.

Fitness

A gym might use a gym waiver form covering exercise, equipment use, physical exertion, and injuries.

Personal training

A trainer can use a personal training liability waiver before beginning sessions with a client.

Sports

Clubs and organizers can use a sports waiver form to document activity risks and participant consent.

Yoga

A studio can use a yoga liability waiver covering physical participation and relevant health considerations.

Horse riding

Equestrian businesses can use a horse riding waiver addressing risks associated with horses, riding, and equipment.

Rentals

A rental business might use a boat rental liability waiver or bike rental waiver, depending on the equipment.

Adventure activities

Operators can choose more specific templates, including:

Using an activity-specific form makes it easier to include the right questions and risk acknowledgements.

Create a release of liability form online

A release of liability form should be easy for customers to read, sign, and submit—and easy for your business to find when you need it.

With AgreeDock, you can create digital waivers and release forms, add your own terms and fields, collect electronic signatures, and share forms through a link or QR code.

Completed documents stay organized digitally instead of being stored in folders or filing cabinets.

Create your liability waiver form →

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