What happened
Before you sign the severance papers
A severance agreement trades money for your rights. We read it with you, line by line, before you decide.
Most severance offers come with a deadline and a release: you get a payment, and you agree not to sue over anything that happened at the job. Some also limit where you can work next, or what you can say.
You usually have more time than the cover letter suggests, and sometimes more room to ask for changes. Bring the papers to us before you sign, even if the deadline is close.
What we look at in an offer
What you’d give up
The release: which claims it covers, and whether you have one worth more than the offer.
How long you have
The review and cancel periods, and whether the deadline is real.
What comes after
Non-compete, non-disparagement and confidentiality terms, and your reference.
What’s missing
Unpaid wages, unused vacation, health coverage, or anything you were already owed.
Questions about severance
Can I ask for more?
You can always ask. Whether it’s worth asking depends on what claims you have and what the company wants from the release.
The deadline is this week. Is it too late?
Call us now. We can often read an agreement within a few days, and we’ll tell you if the timing is tight.
Is severance taxed?
Usually, yes, like regular pay. We can explain how the payments are set up, but for tax advice you’ll want a tax preparer.
Holding a severance offer?
Send us the eligibility check, then bring the papers to your first meeting.
Our help is free for workers who qualify. We tell you about any court cost before it comes up.