---
name: franchise-release
title: Franchise Termination / Expiration Release
description: Drafts a General Release for termination or expiration of a franchise agreement with broad release language, unknown-claims waivers (Cal. Civ. Code § 1542), covenants not to sue, and carve-outs preserving post-termination obligations. Use when finalizing franchise relationships, drafting termination or expiration releases, or settling franchise disputes.
author: CaseMark
author_url: https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/franchise-release
license: Apache-2.0
version: 0.1.0
execution_mode: open
jurisdiction: us
practice: commercial
language: en
tags: [agreement, drafting, transactional]
---

# Franchise Termination / Expiration Release

Drafts an execution-ready General Release when a franchise relationship ends, balancing broad franchisor protection with state-law enforceability. Default: unilateral (franchisee → franchisor). Target 3–5 pages.

## Prerequisites

Collect before drafting:

- **Franchise agreement** — executed copy with notice clauses, governing law, any required release language
- **Termination/expiration details** — date, basis (natural expiration vs. early termination), cure history
- **Party identification** — franchisee entity, all principals/guarantors, franchisor corporate family
- **Dispute history** — unresolved claims, pending amounts, negotiated carve-outs
- **Governing law** — for unknown-claims waiver selection and franchise-statute review

If the user uploads the franchise agreement or correspondence, extract concrete details (parties, dates, governing law, required release language) rather than using generic placeholders.

## Document Sections

| # | Section | Key Content |
|---|---------|-------------|
| 1 | Title & Parties | "GENERAL RELEASE" — Releasor: franchisee entity + principals/guarantors; Releasee: franchisor + parent, subs, affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, successors, assigns |
| 2 | Recitals | Reference franchise agreement by date/parties; state termination vs. expiration and date; acknowledge release as condition; parties wish to resolve all matters |
| 3 | Operative Release | "Any and all claims … known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, fixed or contingent" arising from the franchise agreement, relationship, or business operation — contract, tort, statute, common law, equity; reference franchise-relationship laws, antitrust, consumer protection |
| 4 | Unknown Claims Waiver | Jurisdiction-tailored — if CA nexus, quote Cal. Civ. Code § 1542 in full and expressly waive (see template below); otherwise include equivalent common-law waiver |
| 5 | Covenant Not to Sue | Independent promise not to commence, maintain, or participate in any action on released claims |
| 6 | Acknowledgments | Right to counsel advised; voluntary execution; no duress; valuable consideration received; full understanding of legal effect |
| 7 | Carve-Outs | Narrowly scoped exceptions (see checklist below) |
| 8 | Governing Law & Severability | Match franchise agreement; include reformation clause |
| 9 | Signature Blocks | Franchisee entity (with title/authority), each principal/guarantor, optional franchisor acceptance; date lines; notarization space if required |

## Carve-Out Checklist

Narrow each exception to avoid undermining protective scope:

- [ ] Franchisor's post-termination purchase obligations (inventory/equipment)
- [ ] Franchisee indemnification rights for third-party claims
- [ ] Statutory rights that cannot be released by law in governing jurisdiction
- [ ] Any specifically negotiated separate resolution items

## Post-Termination Obligations to Preserve

The release must explicitly state it does NOT release franchisee from:

- [ ] Non-competition covenants
- [ ] Confidentiality obligations
- [ ] De-identification of former franchise location
- [ ] Return of proprietary materials and confidential information
- [ ] Payment of amounts owed under the franchise agreement

## Cal. Civ. Code § 1542 Waiver Template

Use when California law governs or franchisee has CA nexus:

```
Releasor acknowledges that they have been advised of, and hereby
expressly waive and relinquish, all rights and benefits under
California Civil Code Section 1542, which provides:

  "A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS THAT THE CREDITOR
  OR RELEASING PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR
  HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE AND THAT, IF
  KNOWN BY HIM OR HER, WOULD HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER
  SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR OR RELEASED PARTY."

Releasor acknowledges they may later discover claims or facts
that would have materially affected this decision and nevertheless
intend this release to cover all claims, known or unknown.
```

## Pitfalls & Checks

- **Mutual releases**: If negotiated termination requires mutual release, make franchisor's release narrower and preserve enforcement of all post-termination covenants.
- **Consideration**: Identify specific consideration beyond what the franchise agreement already requires; otherwise reference the contractual obligation itself.
- **Franchise-protective states**: CA, WI, MN, IL, WA and others void broad prospective waivers of statutory franchise rights — review enforceability limits. [VERIFY]
- **Placeholders**: Use `[BRACKETED TEXT]` for missing party names, dates, or jurisdiction-specific provisions with a note on what to insert.
