Legal Definitions - Severability clause

A severability clause is a provision in a contract that ensures that if one part of the contract is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the rest of the contract will still remain in effect.

For example, let's say you sign a contract with a company to provide services for a year. The contract includes a severability clause. Later, a court finds that one of the clauses in the contract is illegal. The severability clause ensures that the rest of the contract remains valid and enforceable.

Another example could be a rental agreement that includes a clause stating that the tenant must pay a late fee if rent is not paid on time. If a court finds that this clause is unenforceable, the severability clause ensures that the rest of the rental agreement remains in effect.

Severability clauses are important because they protect the parties involved in a contract from having the entire agreement become invalid if one part of it is found to be unenforceable. This helps to ensure that the parties can still rely on the remaining parts of the contract to fulfill their obligations.