Permission Slips and Liability: Explained Simply

Permission slips and activity waivers are common for sports, camps, after-school programs, field trips, and other activities. Schools, clubs, and organisations often ask parents to sign a form before a child can participate. These forms usually include consent to participate, emergency contact and medical information, and sometimes a "release" or "waiver" of liability—where you agree not to sue the organisation if your child is hurt. If you don't read carefully, you might not know what you're agreeing to—or that in many places, waivers that try to cover negligence (e.g. unsafe equipment, poor supervision) are limited or unenforceable, especially for minors. Here's what these forms often say in plain language, what to watch for, and what you can do before you sign.

What "permission" usually means

Before your child can take part, you're typically asked to confirm a few things. Here's what the main sections usually mean.

Consent to participate

You're allowing your child to take part in the activity and confirming that they're fit to do so (e.g. no known medical conditions that would make participation unsafe). You're also acknowledging that the activity has certain risks—for example, sports involve physical contact, trips involve travel—and that you accept those risks. This is standard and reasonable: the organisation needs to know you've agreed to your child's participation and that you're aware of normal risks. What to check: Is the activity clearly described? If the form says "all activities organised by the club" without specifying what those are, ask for a list or description. You want to know what you're consenting to.

Emergency contact and medical

Who should the organisation call if something happens? You'll usually provide contact details (your phone number, perhaps a second contact). You may also be asked to authorise staff to consent to emergency medical treatment if you can't be reached—for example, if your child is injured and needs to go to hospital. That's reasonable: in an emergency, staff need to be able to act quickly. But make sure the form is clear about what "emergency" means and what authority staff have (e.g. consent to treatment that a doctor deems necessary in the circumstances). You may also be asked to disclose any medical conditions, allergies, or medications your child has. That helps staff keep your child safe—for example, they need to know about an allergy to nuts or a condition that requires medication. Make sure the information is accurate and up to date. If something changes during the year, update the form.

Liability and release language

Many forms include a "release of liability" or "waiver of claims"—where you agree not to sue the organisation, its staff, and sometimes others (e.g. facility owners, coaches) for injury or damage "arising from" or "related to" the activity. Here's what to understand.

Release of claims

The form may say you "release," "waive," or "discharge" claims against the organisation and its staff for injury, loss, or damage arising from or related to the activity. In other words, you agree not to sue them if your child is hurt. The wording can be broad—for example, "any and all claims, whether known or unknown"—so the organisation is trying to protect itself from as much liability as possible.

Why it matters

Broad wording can try to cover even negligence—for example, if the organisation fails to maintain safe equipment, provides poor supervision, or ignores known risks. But in many places, waivers for negligence—especially for minors—are limited or unenforceable. The law may not allow a parent to waive a child's right to sue for negligence, or courts may refuse to enforce such waivers as against public policy. So even if the form says you waive "all claims including for negligence," it might not hold up in court. The form may still be written broadly to discourage claims or to try to limit liability where the law allows. You should understand: (1) what the form says you're waiving, and (2) that in your jurisdiction it may not be fully enforceable—especially for negligence or for minors. If your child is hurt due to clear negligence (e.g. broken equipment the organisation knew about and didn't fix), you may still have a claim. Don't assume you've given up your rights just because you signed. If in doubt, get advice.

What to look for

• Whether the waiver mentions "negligence" or "fault." If it does, understand that in many places such waivers are limited or unenforceable for minors. You're not necessarily giving up the right to sue for negligence.
• What the organisation's insurance covers. Even if you've signed a waiver, the organisation may have insurance that covers injury. Ask what insurance they have and what it covers. If your child is hurt, you may still be able to make a claim against their insurance—depending on the circumstances and your jurisdiction.
• Whether you can ask for changes. Some organisations will narrow the waiver if you ask—for example, to exclude gross negligence or to clarify that you're not waiving claims for known, unremedied hazards. Others won't, but it doesn't hurt to ask. If they won't change it and you're uncomfortable, you may have to decide whether to sign anyway (understanding that the waiver may not be fully enforceable) or not allow your child to participate.

Practical steps

Before you sign, take a few steps to protect your child and understand your rights.

• Read the whole form, not just the signature line. The important stuff is often in the middle—the release language, the scope of consent, and any assumptions of risk.
• Ask for a copy and keep it. Note the date you signed and what activity it was for. If something happens later, you'll have the version you agreed to.
• Note deadlines. Some forms must be signed before the first session or before a certain date. Don't leave it to the last minute—you want time to read and ask questions.
• If something is unclear or too broad, ask the organisation to clarify or narrow it. Some will; others won't. But you'll know what you're signing, and you may get a more reasonable form. If the organisation won't change anything and you're still uncomfortable, you can ask what happens if you don't sign—can your child still participate with a limited consent (e.g. no waiver), or not at all? Some organisations will allow participation without the waiver; others won't. It depends on their policy and your jurisdiction.
• BeforeYouSign can highlight consent, release, and liability language in these forms so you can decide what you're comfortable with—and what to ask about—before you sign.