Read the document as a whole
Start with the complete draft and all attachments. Check that names, dates, claim references, and payment amounts match the intended agreement. A heading that says “property damage” does not answer what every clause below it covers.
Use a question sheet rather than trying to rewrite unfamiliar legal language yourself. Mark each clause you do not understand and ask the lawyer reviewing the agreement to explain its practical effect.
Identify the scope and obligations
- Which people or organizations are releasing or receiving a release?
- Which incidents, claims, and time periods are included?
- Does it address unknown or future issues?
- Who is responsible for medical balances or reimbursement claims?
- Are confidentiality, non-disparagement, indemnity, or other continuing promises included?
- What must happen before payment, and when is payment due?
These are review questions, not a statement that every release contains these terms or that every term is enforceable in every jurisdiction.
Pay attention to future care
California’s workers’ compensation resolution guide explains how one settlement form may shift responsibility for future medical care when that cost is included. This is a specific program example, not a rule for all injury settlements.
If treatment is still developing, ask how the proposed agreement deals with that uncertainty. Do not assume a later bill can simply be added to a completed settlement. Likewise, do not rely on an AI-generated assurance that a clause is harmless.
Make the review concrete
An invented example: a draft promises $10,000 but says payment depends on additional documents that are not attached. The useful next question is which documents, who supplies them, and whether the condition has been satisfied. A verbal “it is standard” does not resolve the missing information.
If cost prevents a full representation arrangement, ask about a limited document review or consult USAGov’s affordable legal help resources. Confirm the scope of the service. Preserve the final signed copy and any distribution statement securely. This guide prepares questions; it does not approve a release or decide whether giving up particular rights is appropriate for you.