A Release is a document which, if properly used, effectively extinguishes potential causes of action on the part of the releasing party. Thus, in employment situations, the Release is usually a written record of the intention of an employee to relinquish claims of all sorts against the employer. A severance agreement is a contract between an employer and employee documenting the rights and responsibilities of both parties in the event of job termination. The contract specifies any severance package of pay and benefits and the conditions under which it will be provided or withheld.
An Accord and Satisfaction is an Agreement between two parties to a contract, in which one party (which has a legal claim against the other) releases the other party from its obligations in return for some form of compensation. The agreement is the 'accord,' and the compensation is the 'satisfaction.'
