Asked to sign a deed of release? Get it checked first.
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A deed of release is usually presented alongside, or instead of, a standard redundancy payout, and signing it typically means giving up your right to bring any further claims against your employer, in exchange for a payment.
Before you sign, it's worth understanding
- Exactly what you're giving up. Deeds are often written broadly, covering far more than just the redundancy itself.
- Whether the payment on offer reflects what you're actually owed, or whether it's meant to buy off a genuine problem with the process.
- Whether you're being given a fair amount of time to consider it and get advice. You're generally entitled to this, and being rushed is itself a warning sign.
None of this means you shouldn't sign. Plenty of deeds are entirely reasonable. It just means it's worth having it read by someone who isn't your employer before you do.
Common questions
Often, yes. The terms and the payment attached to a deed aren't always fixed, especially if there's a genuine question over how your redundancy was handled.
You generally keep your right to bring a claim, along with whatever your statutory or contractual entitlements are regardless. Not signing isn't automatically a worse outcome, it depends on your situation.
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