Legal Definitions - statutory disclaimer

A statutory disclaimer is a legal statement that disclaims or renounces a legal right or claim. It can be in the form of a written or oral statement, and it is often used to limit liability or avoid taxes.

• Disclaimer of Warranty: A seller may include a statement in their sales contract that limits their liability for defects in the goods sold. For example, a car dealership may include a disclaimer that they are not responsible for any issues with the car after it is sold.
• Patent Disclaimer: A patent applicant may amend their application to relinquish one or more claims to the invention. This is done to avoid having the entire application rejected due to a single invalid claim.
• Qualified Disclaimer: A person may refuse to accept an interest in property to avoid paying estate or gift taxes. This refusal must be in writing and executed within nine months of the interest being created.

These examples illustrate how a statutory disclaimer can be used to limit liability, avoid taxes, or protect legal rights.