What is a Disclaimer?

A disclaimer is a renunciation of a legal right, responsibility, or claim of the disclaiming party. Disclaimer law branches into several different spheres of law. It may be used in a contract to reduce the liability of one of the parties to the contract. In patent and trademark applications, the applicant may be required to disclaim part of his or her design to meet the requirements of the jurisdiction’s laws on intellectual property. Additionally, disclaimers may be used in estate law where an heir may disclaim his or her interest in an inheritance