Separation Agreement (US) Template
Release of claims, severance, OWBPA-compliant for ADEA waivers. US separation agreement — release of claims, severance, OWBPA-compliant ADEA waiver, return of property. $49.
Single buyer, lifetime license — covers your business, free quarterly refreshes when laws change.
Not legal advice — review with counsel before signing.
Document details
A Separation Agreement turns a termination into a release-of-claims transaction. The company pays severance; the departing employee waives potential claims against the company. The exchange protects both parties and is the standard structure for any termination involving severance.
This template is OWBPA-compliant for employees 40+ (ADEA waiver requirements: 21-day consideration period, 7-day revocation window, separate notice document for group RIFs). Includes harassment claim carveouts under the Speak Out Act.
What's in the template
9 sections, ordered from setup → assessment → support → close.
- 1Separation date and final pay terms
- 2Severance amount and payment schedule
- 3Release of claims (with OWBPA-compliant ADEA waiver)
- 421-day consideration / 7-day revocation period
- 5Harassment, discrimination, and assault claim carve-outs
- 6Continuation of benefits and COBRA references
- 7Return of property and confidentiality survival
- 8Non-disparagement (mutual where appropriate)
- 9Reference language for future inquiries
Who this is for
- →HR practitioners and people teams handling legal agreements in US
- →Small-business owners running HR without a dedicated team
- →Managers preparing for a high-stakes employment conversation
- →Fractional HR consultants and PEO firms
- →In-house counsel partnering with HR on documentation
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word (.docx) — open in Word, Pages, or Google Docs
- ✓PDF copy for archival + sharing
- ✓Google Doc-compatible export
- ✓Editorial guidance notes explaining each section
- ✓Single-buyer, lifetime commercial-use license
- ✓Free quarterly refreshes when law or best practice changes
- ✓Instant download — link emailed within seconds of payment
- ✓7-day refund window if the template isn't what you needed
Legal frameworks aligned
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act 1964 — anti-discrimination
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — reasonable accommodation
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) — protected leave
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) — wage & hour
- State-specific final-pay rules (CA, CO, MA, MT — same-day)
Reference list — this template is designed to be defensible under these frameworks when used as intended. Not a substitute for counsel on a specific matter.
Frequently asked questions
OWBPA-compliant?
Yes — for employees 40+, includes 21-day consideration period, 7-day revocation window, and the specific advisory language required by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act.
What can't be waived?
Workers' compensation claims, unemployment benefits, vested 401(k), and (post Speak Out Act 2022) pre-dispute sexual harassment or assault claims.
Mutual non-disparagement?
Template offers both unilateral and mutual versions. Mutual is more common at senior levels; unilateral is more common for lower-level separations.
Separation Agreement (US) Template — $49
Editable .docx + .pdf + Google Doc. Instant download. Single-buyer lifetime license. Free quarterly refreshes.