What every liability waiver should include (a checklist)
Updated November 12, 2026
Short answer: A liability waiver should include 6 core clauses (assumption of risk, release and waiver of liability, indemnification / hold harmless, medical disclosure, governing law and venue, and severability), the specific risks of the activity rather than a blanket "all risks", and your business name and address with a dated signature block. Browse waivers by industry.
Whether you run a med spa, a climbing gym, or a paddleboard rental, a useful liability waiver is built from the same core parts. Here is what to look for, and why each one matters.
The essential clauses
Assumption of risk, the signer acknowledges the activity has inherent risks and chooses to accept them.
Release and waiver of liability, the signer agrees not to sue for ordinary negligence, to the extent the law allows.
Indemnification / hold harmless, the signer agrees to cover costs they cause.
Medical disclosure, the signer confirms they have shared relevant conditions, which both protects them and shows informed consent.
Governing law and venue, ties the document to your state’s law.
Severability, if one clause is struck, the rest survive.
The part most templates get wrong: specific risks
A generic waiver waives “all risks.” A strong waiver names the real ones. For laser hair removal that means eye-injury and burn risk; for a trampoline park, fractures and collision risk; for IV therapy, infection and adverse-reaction risk. Naming the specific hazards is what demonstrates the signer was actually informed, and it is exactly what a court looks for.
The details that make it usable
Your business name and address, an authorized-representative line, a dated signature block, and (where relevant) parent/guardian fields for minors. Photography/media consent and data-privacy language are common add-ons for clinics and studios.
WaiverPad assembles these clauses for your specific service and merges your business details automatically, but the checklist above is worth keeping whether you build your own or buy one. As always: this is general information, not legal advice.
What a waiver should include, answered
What should a liability waiver include?
A liability waiver should include 6 core clauses (assumption of risk, release and waiver of liability, indemnification / hold harmless, medical disclosure, governing law and venue, and severability), the specific risks of the activity rather than a blanket "all risks", and your business name and address with a dated signature block. Where minors take part, add parent or guardian fields. This is general information, not legal advice.
What clauses does a liability waiver need?
Assumption of risk: the signer acknowledges the activity has inherent risks and chooses to accept them. Release and waiver of liability: the signer agrees not to sue for ordinary negligence, to the extent the law allows. Indemnification / hold harmless: the signer agrees to cover costs they cause. Medical disclosure: the signer confirms they have shared relevant conditions, which both protects them and shows informed consent. Governing law and venue: ties the document to your state’s law. Severability: if one clause is struck, the rest survive. As an example, WaiverPad's laser hair removal waiver has 11 sections: Informed Consent to Laser Treatment, Eye and Skin Safety Acknowledgement, Assumption of Risk, Release and Waiver of Liability, Medical History and Disclosure, Laser Aftercare Obligations, Indemnification and Hold Harmless, Governing Law and Venue, Photography and Media Release, Data Privacy and Communications, and Severability and Entire Agreement.
What risks should a liability waiver list?
A generic waiver waives “all risks.” A strong waiver names the real ones. For laser hair removal that means eye-injury and burn risk; for a trampoline park, fractures and collision risk; for IV therapy, infection and adverse-reaction risk. Naming the specific hazards is what demonstrates the signer was actually informed, and it is exactly what a court looks for. In WaiverPad's own waivers, the laser hair removal waiver lists "Risk of burns, blistering, and temporary skin discoloration" and "Permanent eye injury if protective eyewear is not worn"; the trampoline park waiver lists "Sprains, fractures, and collisions with other jumpers" and "Rare risk of catastrophic neck or spinal injury"; the IV hydration therapy waiver lists "Bruising, vein inflammation, or infection at the injection site" and "Lightheadedness or, rarely, allergic reaction", among others.
What details does a waiver need besides the clauses?
Your business name and address, an authorized-representative line, a dated signature block, and (where relevant) parent/guardian fields for minors. Photography/media consent and data-privacy language are common add-ons for clinics and studios.
Where can I get a liability waiver that includes all of this?
WaiverPad has 185 activity-specific waivers and consent forms across 11 industries at $5 to $10 each. Each one names 5 risks of its own activity and has an assumption-of-risk acknowledgment, a release of liability, an indemnification clause and a governing-law clause, with your business name, address and state merged in. You preview the document free, then download the PDF; customers can also sign it online from a link or QR code, free for up to 10 signed waivers a month.
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