Last Updated February 29, 2024
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What is a Termination Agreement?
A Termination Agreement is used to record a contract’s cancellation. The document affirms that all the contract’s parties agree to end it and renounce all their outstanding contractual responsibilities.
A Termination Agreement is also known as a:
- Notice of cancellation of contract
- Termination of contract
- Notice of termination of contract
When does a Termination Agreement activate?
Your Termination Agreement comes into effect on a date of your choosing. However, all parties involved need to agree on the cancellation date. You also need to specify the date within the agreement.
You have a few options when deciding the date your Termination Agreement comes into effect. The contract can end immediately or on a specified future date. There’s also the option of it coming into effect once all the parties have signed the agreement.
LawDepot also provides the option to leave the date blank if you’re unsure when you want the contract to end officially. This allows you to fill in the date at a later time.
Can I cancel a contract after signing it?
Cancelling a contract after signing it is possible under the right circumstances. If all the parties involved agree to the dissolution, you can make it official by creating a Termination Agreement. However, if the original contract has any rules relating to its cancellation, your Termination Agreement must follow them.
Specific contracts have it written that the involved parties have a grace period to change their mind about an agreement. This trial period can often allow a contract to end without anyone providing a reason. For example, many online subscriptions come with a 15 day trial period that enables you to cancel an agreement with no questions asked.
Additionally, you can sometimes end a contract if the other party doesn't uphold their end of the deal. For example, if they fail to provide a service or a purchased item does not work as advertised. Generally, there's a strong possibility of ending an agreement if the contract isn't fulfilling its purpose.
How to create a Termination Agreement
You can easily create a customised Termination Agreement by completing LawDepot’s questionnaire. Using our template will ensure you complete the necessary steps.
1. Specify the type of agreement you’re terminating
You can use a Termination Agreement to end many kinds of contracts and agreements. Start creating your document by indicating the type of agreement you’re cancelling. Your options include:
- Lease or Tenancy
- Services
- Loan
- Property Purchase
- Employment
Select ‘Other’ if the agreement you want to terminate doesn’t fall under any of these categories. You can specify the precise type of agreement later in the questionnaire.
2. Specify your location
States and territories in Australia have their own rules and regulations for terminating contracts. Specify which state or territory you’re in, and we’ll customise your Termination Agreement to meet its governing laws.
We have templates for:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
3. State each party’s details
Include the name and address of every party involved in the contract or agreement coming to an end.
4. Provide the original contract’s details
For your Termination Agreement to be valid, it must be clear which contract it's cancelling. Provide the original contract's signing date and the purpose it served.
For example, if you're ending a Commercial Lease Agreement or Residential Tenancy Agreement, specify that you're terminating an agreement to rent a property and provide its address.
5. Include the termination date
The termination date is when the original contract becomes invalid. Specify when you want your Termination Agreement to take effect by selecting one of the following options:
- Today
- On signing this Termination Agreement
- Unsure
- On a specific date
Selecting ‘Unsure’ will leave a blank space in your document for you to fill in with a date later.
6. Describe any compensation
Describe any compensation a party will receive when the original contract comes to an end. For example, an employee will sometimes receive a severance package when an Employment Contract ends.
7. Provide signing details
State the date the parties will sign the Termination Agreement and whether any witnesses will be present.
If you’re unsure when the parties will sign the document, you can provide the date later. A blank space will be available at the bottom of your agreement.