A release or release agreement is a document or other enforceable agreement that releases one party from further liability to another—or releases two or more parties from further liability to each other. A release is typically signed or executed by the parties following an incident, claim, or lawsuit in which one party (the releasing party) claims another party (the released party) caused physical, financial, or emotional damage to the releasing party.

A release is typically included in a settlement agreement to resolve such claims before, during, or after a lawsuit is filed involving the incident or claim. The release is typically given by the releasing party in exchange for the released party paying money or giving or doing something else of value that the releasing party will accept in exchange—even an apology may be given in exchange for a release if the releasing party is willing to accept the apology in exchange for the release.

In North Carolina, a release or release agreement is a legally binding document that absolves one or more parties from further liability to another party or each other. This type of agreement is commonly used to settle disputes involving allegations of physical, financial, or emotional harm. The party who believes they have been wronged (the releasing party) agrees to not pursue any further legal action against the party they believe has caused the harm (the released party), often in exchange for compensation, which could be monetary or another form of valuable consideration, such as an apology. Releases are often part of settlement agreements that are reached either before a lawsuit is filed, during the litigation process, or after a lawsuit has been initiated but before it is resolved by a court. In North Carolina, for a release to be enforceable, it must be entered into knowingly and voluntarily by the parties, and it must be supported by adequate consideration. It is important for parties to carefully consider the terms of a release agreement, as signing one typically means giving up the right to pursue any further legal claims related to the incident in question.