Termination Letter (US, At-Will) Template
At-will and for-cause termination letters with state-specific final pay notes. US termination letter — at-will and for-cause versions, state-specific final pay timing, COBRA references. $49.
Single buyer, lifetime license — covers your business, free quarterly refreshes when laws change.
Not legal advice — review with counsel before signing.
Document details
What's in the template
7 sections, ordered from setup → assessment → support → close.
- 1At-will termination letter (no stated reason)
- 2For-cause termination letter (with documentation reference)
- 3Final pay timing per state (CA: same day, NY: next regular payday, etc.)
- 4COBRA continuation notice timing
- 5Return of property instructions
- 6Separation agreement reference (if applicable)
- 7Editorial notes on what to say and not say in the conversation
Who this is for
- →HR practitioners and people teams handling termination & exit 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
Need to state a reason?
In US at-will states (49 of 50), no. The simpler the better. Stating a reason creates obligations to defend it.
Final pay timing?
Varies dramatically by state. CA requires same-day; NY allows next regular payday; most states fall between. Template includes per-state guidance.
COBRA notice?
Federal law requires within 14 days of qualifying event. Template references the timing without including the COBRA notice itself (which has its own form).
Termination Letter (US, At-Will) Template — $49
Editable .docx + .pdf + Google Doc. Instant download. Single-buyer lifetime license. Free quarterly refreshes.