18+ Severance Agreement Templates – Employment Termination Made Simple

Easily create clear and professional severance agreements with our editable MS Word templates, designed to simplify employee transitions.

Letting an employee go is never easy — it can be stressful for both the company and the individual. That’s why having the right paperwork matters. A Severance Agreement helps make the transition smoother by clearly laying out pay, benefits, and expectations, so there’s no confusion on either side.

Our collection of 18+ Severance Agreement Templates is designed to save you time and give you peace of mind. Each template is fully editable in MS Word, easy to customize for your situation, and comes with a professional cover page for a polished finish. Whether you’re handling a layoff, a mutual separation, an executive exit, or a retirement, these templates give you a clear, professional starting point to make the process fair and respectful.

Download Ready-to-Use Severance Agreement Templates

Download ready-to-use severance agreement templates in editable MS Word format with professional cover pages.

Download easy-to-use Severance Agreement Templates to handle employee terminations, layoffs, resignations, or mutual separations with ease. Each template is fully editable in MS Word, allowing you to quickly customize it to match your company’s specific needs, and comes with a thoughtfully designed cover page to give your documents a polished, professional touch.

What is a Severance Agreement?

A Severance Agreement (sometimes called a termination agreement, separation agreement, or employee exit contract) is a legally binding document signed between an employer and an employee when employment ends. It clearly defines the terms of separation, including severance pay, benefits, confidentiality obligations, non-compete clauses, and other conditions that protect both the employer and the employee.

Explore Our Severance Agreement Templates Now!

01. Standard Severance Agreement

Professional cover page design of a Standard Severance Agreement Template for employers and employees
Sample clauses and formatted sections from the Standard Severance Agreement Template showing severance payment and confidentiality terms

02. Executive Severance Agreement

Cover page of the Executive Severance Agreement Template showing a clean and professional design.
Inside preview of the Executive Severance Agreement Template highlighting sample clauses and agreement structure.

03. Termination Without Cause Agreement

Clean and professional cover page design of the Termination Without Cause Agreement template in MS Word format.
Editable inside page preview showing key sections like severance terms, benefits, and confidentiality in the Termination Without Cause Agreement template.

04. Termination With Cause Agreement

Professional cover page of the Termination With Cause Agreement template in Word format, designed for employers and HR professionals.
Inside preview of the Termination With Cause Agreement template showing termination grounds, compensation, and company property return clauses.

05. Voluntary Resignation Severance Agreement

Professional cover page design of the Voluntary Resignation Severance Agreement Template in Word format
Preview of inside pages showing resignation terms, severance benefits, and confidentiality clauses from the Voluntary Resignation Severance Agreement Template

06. Mutual Separation Agreement

Cover page of the Mutual Separation Agreement template featuring a clean, professional legal document design.
Inside preview of the Mutual Separation Agreement template showing sections on separation details, compensation, and confidentiality clauses.

07. Redundancy/Layoff Severance Agreement

Professional cover page design of the Redundancy/Layoff Severance Agreement template available for download.
Inside preview of the Redundancy/Layoff Severance Agreement template showing sections on severance pay, benefits, and confidentiality.

08. Retirement Severance Agreement

Cover page of the Retirement Severance Agreement Template highlighting a professional, ready-to-use design for HR and legal use.
Inside preview of the Retirement Severance Agreement Template showing customizable sections like severance pay, retirement benefits, and confidentiality clauses.

09. Probationary Period Termination Agreement

Professional cover page design of the Probationary Period Termination Agreement template in Word format.
Sample preview of the Probationary Period Termination Agreement template showing editable sections and clear formatting.

10. Industry-Specific Severance Agreement

Professional cover page of the Industry-Specific Severance Agreement template, highlighting customizable legal agreement design.
Preview of the Industry-Specific Severance Agreement template showing key sections such as severance pay, benefits continuation, and compliance clauses.

11. Non-Disclosure & Severance Agreement

Cover page design of the Non-Disclosure & Severance Agreement template for download
Inside preview of the customizable Non-Disclosure & Severance Agreement template showing confidentiality and severance clauses

12. Non-Compete & Severance Agreement

Professional cover page of the Non-Compete & Severance Agreement Template in Word format
Inside page preview showing editable clauses of the Non-Compete & Severance Agreement Template

13. Settlement Agreement for Dispute Resolution

Professional cover page of a Settlement Agreement template for resolving disputes.
Editable Word document preview of the Settlement Agreement showing key settlement terms and clauses.

14. Short-Term Contract Severance Agreement

Professional cover page design of the Short-Term Contract Severance Agreement template in Word format.
Screenshot showing editable sections of the Short-Term Contract Severance Agreement, including termination date, severance payment, and confidentiality clauses.

15. Part-Time or Hourly Employee Severance Agreement

Preview of the inside pages of the Part-Time or Hourly Employee Severance Agreement template, showing structured clauses and sections.

16. International Employee Severance Agreement

Cover page of the International Employee Severance Agreement Template, designed for global employers and HR professionals.
Inside page preview showing severance pay, benefits, and compliance sections of the International Employee Severance Agreement Template.

17. Severance Agreement with Stock/Equity Settlement

Professional cover page of the Severance Agreement with Stock/Equity Settlement template in Word format.
Sample page from the Severance Agreement with Stock/Equity Settlement template showing customizable clauses and formatting.

18. Severance Agreement with Outplacement Services

Professional cover page of the Severance Agreement with Outplacement Services template, ready for customization by employers and HR teams.
Inside page preview of the Severance Agreement with Outplacement Services template, showing sample clauses on severance payments, outplacement support, and confidentiality.

Why Severance Agreements Matter

Ending an employment relationship isn’t just about saying goodbye — it’s about making sure the transition is clear, fair, and legally safe for both sides. That’s where a Severance Agreement comes in.

A well-drafted agreement:

  • Protects your business from future claims or disputes by clearly documenting the terms of separation.
  • Helps employees leave on good terms, with transparent details about pay, benefits, and final settlements.
  • Simplifies the transition by putting everything — from compensation to confidentiality and non-compete clauses — into one straightforward document.

By using a severance agreement, you ensure the process is professional, respectful, and stress-free for everyone involved.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Drafting Severance Agreements

Common mistakes to avoid when drafting severance agreements, showing errors marked on legal documents.

Even the most well-meaning agreements can create problems if important details are overlooked. Here are some common mistakes employers make — and how to avoid them:

  • Leaving out confidentiality or non-disparagement clauses – Without these, sensitive company information or reputation could be at risk.
  • Not specifying exact severance pay and benefits – Vague terms can lead to confusion or even legal disputes.
  • Using the same template for every employee – Executives, hourly staff, and contract workers often require different terms and protections.
  • Ignoring local labor laws – Employment regulations vary, and failing to adapt your agreement can make it unenforceable.

By avoiding these pitfalls, you’ll create an agreement that’s clear, compliant, and fair — protecting your business while ensuring a respectful employee exit.

How to Use These Templates Effectively

Guide on how to use severance agreement templates effectively by editing, customizing, and finalizing in MS Word.

Our Severance Agreement Templates are designed to be simple yet professional, so you can adapt them quickly to your situation. Here’s how to get the best results:

  1. Choose the right template – Pick the version that matches your case, such as a layoff, executive exit, or retirement agreement.
  2. Open in MS Word – Each template is fully editable, so you can easily update names, dates, compensation details, and other key information.
  3. Customize the clauses – Add or remove terms like non-compete restrictions, confidentiality obligations, or dispute resolution clauses as needed.
  4. Review for compliance – If required, consult with HR or legal counsel to ensure the agreement aligns with local labor laws.
  5. Finalize and present – Once complete, share the agreement with the employee for review, discussion, and signature.

By following these steps, you’ll have a clear, professional, and legally sound severance agreement ready in minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Frequently asked questions about severance agreement templates, providing clear answers for employers and employees.

Can I use these templates for executives?

Yes. We provide specialized templates for executives that cover additional terms such as stock options, bonuses, and extended non-compete clauses.

Are these agreements enforceable in every state/country?

Our templates are drafted with general best practices, but labor laws differ by location. It’s always recommended to review or adapt the agreement according to your state, country, or jurisdiction’s requirements.

Do employees have to sign a severance agreement?

No. Signing a severance agreement is voluntary for employees. However, employers often provide benefits (like severance pay or extended health coverage) as an incentive for signing.

What is the difference between severance pay and final paycheck?

A final paycheck covers wages for work already performed, while severance pay is additional compensation offered as part of a separation package.

Can these templates be adapted for independent contractors?

Yes. While originally designed for employees, the templates can be adjusted for independent contractors by modifying or removing employee-specific terms.

You may also like

Manager and intern reviewing internship offer and training agreement in a modern office setting
HR professionals reviewing and signing employment offer letter agreements in a modern office setting
Professional businesswoman working on a laptop with non-compete agreement documents, representing free downloadable Word templates
follow-us-on-pinterest
follow-us-on-facebook