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 Dakota, 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. The release agreement can be executed before, during, or after litigation has commenced. It is essential that the terms of the release are clear and that all parties fully understand their rights and obligations under the agreement. In North Dakota, as in other jurisdictions, for a release to be enforceable, it must be entered into voluntarily and with a full understanding of the rights being surrendered. An attorney can help ensure that a release agreement is properly drafted and that it complies with all relevant state statutes and federal laws.