Hold Harmless Indemnity Agreement Template

A Hold Harmless Agreement (also called an indemnity agreement) is a contract where one party agrees not to hold another party liable for damages, losses, or legal claims that may arise from a specific activity or business relationship. This is a powerful risk management tool commonly used in construction, contracting, events, and business partnerships.

The hold harmless clause shifts legal and financial responsibility from one party (the indemnitee) to another (the indemnitor). There are three types: unilateral (one party indemnifies the other), bilateral (mutual indemnification), and intermediate (limited indemnification for acts not caused by the indemnitee's negligence).

This template includes clear identification of the parties, description of the activity or relationship covered, scope of indemnification (what types of claims are covered), limitations and exceptions, insurance requirements, duration of the hold harmless provision, and signature blocks.

Important: Many states limit the enforceability of hold harmless agreements, especially in construction contracts. Some clauses attempting to indemnify against a party's own negligence may be void. Always check your state law or consult legal counsel before relying on a hold harmless agreement.