Separation Terms
State whether resignation is voluntary, the effective date of separation, and any agreed last day of work or notice period.
A properly drafted Employee Resignation Release reduces litigation risk, documents payment and property return terms, and provides clear recordkeeping for payroll and benefits administration. It also helps ensure consistent application of company policies at termination.
HR professionals, hiring managers, and departing employees are the primary participants in preparing and signing a resignation release.
Legal counsel may review releases when the termination involves potential disputes, severance negotiations, or restrictive covenants; keep stakeholders aligned before signatures are requested.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signing Order | Employee → HR → Legal |
| Authentication | Email link or SMS code |
| Required Fields | Names, dates, final pay details |
| Retention | Store signed PDF + audit trail |
Choose a signing platform that supports audit trails, secure storage, and required authentication methods.
Confirm the vendor meets regulatory needs for your industry, offers searchable retention, and provides export options for audits.
State whether resignation is voluntary, the effective date of separation, and any agreed last day of work or notice period.
Detail final wage amount, payment date, unused PTO payout, reimbursements and how statutory deductions are handled.
Specify the scope of claims being released by the employee and any employer obligations tied to severance payments.
List company property to be returned, acceptable condition, and deadlines for return or offsets.
Clarify confidentiality obligations and whether any trade secret protections or post-employment restrictions apply.
Include signature blocks with printed name, title, date, witness or notary lines if required by policy or state law.
Employee-entered MM/DD/YYYY; starts separation timeline.
Varies by state; process by next scheduled payroll or as required by law.
Date when employer-sponsored benefits end and COBRA notices begin.
Preserve signed release from execution date for retention period.
Include in year-end payroll reporting for W-2 and 1099 where applicable.
Employee submits resignation and requested last day.
Employer confirms receipt and outlines next steps.
Handover work and return of property completed.
Final pay issued and release executed.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | Yes, 7-day free trial | No | No | Yes, limited | Yes, limited |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
A mid-size company documents voluntary departures to confirm final pay and COBRA prompts.
A manager coordinates property return and project handover via the release.