When to use a hold harmless agreement?
Asked by: Sylvia Ledner | Last update: October 8, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (32 votes)
A hold harmless agreement, or HHA, is an agreement used to help prevent you or your organization from being held responsible for certain types of bodily injury or property damage. This type of agreement might also be referred to as a
Why would you need a hold harmless agreement?
A hold harmless clause is used as a release of liability in a contract that protects one party from injury or property damage caused by another party. By signing the clause, the other party is agreeing not to hold business owners legally responsible for the risks involved in certain services.
What are the three types of hold harmless agreements?
The most commonly used types of hold harmless agreement clauses are the “broad,” “intermediate,” and “limited” form hold harmless clauses. Limited Form Hold Harmless Agreement—Where Party A holds Party B harmless for suits arising out of Party A's sole negligence.
Do hold harmless agreements hold up in court?
In California, hold harmless agreements are enforceable if they use express contractual language that shifts the risks of certain specified circumstances. Doing so creates an express contractual obligation to indemnify.
What type of risk is a hold harmless clause an example of?
Explanation. A hold-harmless clause is an example of risk transfer. This legal provision allows one party to avoid liability for certain risks by having another party take on that responsibility.
What Is A Hold Harmless?
What is the hold harmless rule?
The Medicare hold harmless provision limits the annual rise in Medicare Part B premiums deducted from Social Security benefits. Due to this provision, premium increases are limited to no more than the cost of living increase provided to the beneficiary in a given year.
What is an example of a hold harmless statement?
I further hereby AGREE TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE RELEASEES from any loss, liability, damage or cost, including court costs and attorney's fees, that they may incur due to my participation in said activity, WHETHER CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE OF RELEASEES or otherwise.
How binding is a hold harmless agreement?
How Binding Is a Hold Harmless Agreement? If the state where a hold harmless agreement us being used recognizes these types of clauses and accepts their use in that particular context, then they should be binding. That's not a guarantee, however.
How do you say we are not liable for any damages?
The no-responsibility disclaimer is also known as a “disclaimer of liability” — or “no-liability disclaimer” — because it refers to a lack of legal obligation on the part of you or your business. These terms are used interchangeably, and posted disclaimers are sometimes labeled differently within the document.
Does a hold harmless agreement need to be notarized?
Hold Harmless Agreement Signing Requirements
Both the indemnitee and indemnifier must sign the Hold Harmless Agreement in the presence of a witness to make it legally binding. Notarization is usually not necessary.
What is another name for a hold harmless agreement?
A hold harmless agreement, or HHA, is an agreement used to help prevent you or your organization from being held responsible for certain types of bodily injury or property damage. This type of agreement might also be referred to as a liability waiver, disclaimer, hold harmless letter, or release of liability.
Who signs a hold harmless agreement?
Hold Harmless Agreement:
An agreement whereby the first party (the indemnitor) agrees to hold a second party (the indemnitee) harmless from tort liability arising out of the indemnitor's negligent act or omission.
What is the difference between a hold harmless and a liability waiver?
A hold harmless agreement differs in that it shifts liability. While a waiver of subrogation is protection from liability, it doesn't shift the liability as a hold harmless agreement does.
What is the difference between indemnify and hold harmless?
Where “indemnity” is an offensive right to seek indemnification, “hold harmless” is a defensive right not to be bothered by the other party seeking indemnification. This difference is best illustrated in Queen Villas Homeowners Ass'n v.
Why is an indemnity better than damages?
For example, if you hire a contractor to do some work and they accidentally damage your property, an indemnity clause in your contract would ensure that the contractor is responsible for covering the repair costs. Without it, you would only be able to claim damages (see below).
What is a hold harmless agreement to enter property?
In real estate, a hold harmless agreement moves any property liability from the seller to the buyer and is commonly used in foreclosures.
Will not be held liable for any injury.?
A release of liability, also known as a liability waiver or a hold harmless agreement, is a contract in which one party agrees not to hold another party liable for damages or injury. These contracts are common in fields that involve some risk to property, finances, or health.
How to write a no responsibility disclaimer?
- Be clear and concise about what is being disclaimed.
- Use simple and easy-to-understand language.
- Avoid using ambiguous language that could be interpreted in different ways.
- Make sure the disclaimer is easy to find and understand.
What is the difference between indemnification and release of liability?
An agreement to indemnify arises from a promise by the indemnitor to safeguard or hold the imdemnitee harmless against existing or future loss, liability, or both. Unlike a release, which suppresses a cause of action, an indemnity creates a potential cause of action between the indemnitee and the indemnitor.
What are the benefits of a hold harmless agreement?
A hold harmless clause is commonly added to contracts. The idea is to protect the company and transfer some of the company's liability to you in return for the business they are sending to you. The clause requires that you protect the company with whom you are contracting if they are sued.
What is assumption of risk and hold harmless agreement?
To the extent permitted by law, I hereby agree to covenant not to sue, and to indemnify, release and hold harmless [fill in name of organization(s) sponsoring event] (hereinafter referred to as “Releasees”) from all liability whatsoever arising out of my participation in this event, including but not limited to any ...
What is an example of a no liability clause?
Neither nor any shall, under any circumstances or in any event whatsoever, have any liability for any error or omission or delay of any kind occurring in the settlement, collection or payment of any of the Receivables or any instrument received in payment thereof, or for any damage resulting therefrom.
What type of risk is a hold harmless clause?
Indemnification or hold harmless clauses are a type of non-insurance transfer of liability to another party. These clauses are common in personal or professional service contracts with independent contractors.
What is another way to say hold harmless?
The prevailing interpretation is that “hold harmless” and “indemnify” are synonymous. However, under the minority view, “hold harmless” requires payment of both actual losses and potential liabilities, while “indemnify” protects against incurred losses only.
What is an example of a simple indemnity clause?
Each party shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the other party, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to any breach of this ...