Whether you’re a small business owner, blogger, content creator, or freelancer, having the right disclaimer examples and legal disclaimer templates on your website is crucial for protecting your business from liability and staying compliant with regulations. This comprehensive guide covers 15+ essential disclaimer (and disclosure) examples with samples of disclaimers and guidance on what each should include and why you need them.

What Is a Website Disclaimer?

A disclaimer is a statement that limits your liability and disclaims certain warranties and liabilities that may arise from your activities. It informs a party that the website owner is limiting their legal liability to visitors on their website.  

A legal disclaimer may also inform users of certain risks associated with using the website, such as if it contains adult themes or material that may be offensive to some users. The information in a legal disclaimer may also help protect your intellectual property rights to the content on your website. Normally you’ll find a disclaimers in the website terms and conditions. 

Website disclaimers are essential for blogs, e-commerce sites, service providers, and any business with an online presence.

Key benefits of disclaimers:

• Reduce legal liability exposure
• Comply with FTC and other regulatory requirements
• Set clear expectations with users
• Protect intellectual property
• Demonstrate legal awareness and professionalism

 

How to Write a Disclaimer: Essential Elements to Include

Creating effective disclaimers requires balancing legal protection with user-friendly language. Here are the key components every strong disclaimer should have:

• Start with your purpose. Clearly state what your disclaimer covers – whether it’s limiting liability, protecting content, or clarifying professional relationships.
• Use straightforward language. Avoid legal jargon when possible. Your visitors should understand what you’re saying without a law degree.
• Be specific about limitations. If you’re not responsible for certain outcomes, say so clearly. If your information might not be 100% accurate, mention that.
• Include user responsibility. Make it clear that people need to make their own decisions and can’t hold you liable for their choices.
• Add professional consultation language. Direct people to seek qualified professionals for serious legal, medical, or financial decisions.
• Keep it visible. Place disclaimers where people can easily find them – in your footer, on relevant pages, or in a dedicated disclaimer section.
• Update regularly. Review your disclaimers whenever you change your business model, add new services, or enter new markets.

For a professional disclaimer that includes these elements, see my attorney-drafted disclaimer from The CEO Legal Loft:

“The CEO Legal Loft is owned by Michelle W. Murphy, LLC and is not a law firm. Nothing on this website is legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is formed by purchasing or viewing a contract template or purchasing any product on this site. If you have a specific problem and need legal advice, contact a licensed attorney in your state or the state bar.”

Do I Need a Disclaimer for My Website?

When you are running a business, it is important to consider the legal implications of what you are doing. One of the first things to consider is whether or not you need a disclaimer. Depending on the type of business and the services you offer, a disclaimer can be necessary to protect yourself from potential legal action.

For example, if you provide advice or advice-based services, it’s important to include a disclaimer that states that any advice given should not be taken as [your industry e.g.,legal or financial] advice. Additionally, if you are selling products, you should include disclaimers stating that any representations made about the product don’t constitute warranties or guarantees about its performance or quality.

Ultimately, it’s important to ensure all appropriate disclaimers are included in your agreements so that both parties understand their rights and obligations when it comes to legal matters.

15+ Essential Disclaimer Examples Every Website Needs

1. General Liability Disclaimer

Why you need it: Every website should have this foundational protection against claims related to website functionality, accuracy of information, and user actions.

Example disclaimer:

The information on this website is provided on an "as is" basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, [Your Company Name] excludes all representations, warranties, undertakings, and guarantees relating to this website and its contents. [Your Company Name] excludes all liability for any damages arising from or in connection with your use of this website. Your use of this website is at your own risk.

What it should include:

• “As is” language for your website content
• Exclusion of warranties and representations
• Limitation of liability for damages
• Clear statement about user responsibility

2. Medical/Health Disclaimer

Why you need it: Required for any website offering health, wellness, fitness, or medical information to avoid being seen as providing medical advice.

What it should include:

• Statement that content is for informational purposes only
• Clear language that it’s not a substitute for professional medical advice
• Instruction to consult healthcare professionals
• Disclaimer about diagnosing or treating conditions

Key phrases: “Not intended as medical advice,” “consult your physician,” “for informational purposes only”

3. Legal Advice Disclaimer Example

Why you need it: Essential for law firms, legal blogs, or any website discussing legal topics to avoid creating attorney-client relationships. This legal advice disclaimer example shows the professional language needed.

What it should include:

• Statement that content is not legal advice
• Clarification that no attorney-client relationship is formed
• Instruction to consult qualified attorneys
• Jurisdiction-specific language

Key phrases: “Not legal advice,” “no attorney-client relationship,” “consult a qualified attorney”

4. Financial/Investment Disclaimer

Why you need it: Required for financial advice, investment recommendations, or money-related content to comply with securities regulations.

Example disclaimer:

The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investments involve risk, including potential loss of principal. The content on this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice. Please consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions based on information found on this website.

What it should include:

• Educational/informational purpose statement
• Investment risk warnings
• Past performance disclaimers
• Instruction to consult financial advisors

5. Earnings/Income Disclaimer

Why you need it: Mandatory when discussing income potential, business results, or financial success stories to comply with FTC guidelines.

What it should include:

• Proof that most consumers can achieve your advertised result, OR
• Clear disclosure of generally expected results (not generic “results may vary”)
• Specific data about typical outcomes
• Context about effort, experience, or other factors required

Important: The FTC considers earnings claims to be “typicality” claims. If your testimonial says “I made $10,000 my first month,” consumers assume they can achieve the same results. Traditional disclaimers like “results not typical” don’t provide FTC protection. Traditional earnings disclaimers don’t provide FTC protection. You need data or specific disclosures about typical results

6. Testimonial Disclaimer

Why you need it: Protects against claims that customer results are typical or guaranteed when featuring reviews or case studies.

What it should include:

• Individual experience statements
• Results variation language
• Non-representative results clarification
• No payment disclosure (if applicable)

Key phrases: “Individual experiences,” “results do vary,” “not necessarily representative”

7. Copyright Disclaimer

Why you need it: Protects your original content and establishes ownership rights against unauthorized use.

What it should include:

• Copyright ownership statement
• Rights reserved language
• Unauthorized use prohibition
• Contact information for permissions

Key phrases: “All rights reserved,” “protected by copyright,” “written permission required”

8. Fair Use Disclaimer

Why you need it: Necessary when using copyrighted material for commentary, criticism, or educational purposes.

What it should include:

• Fair use legal basis explanation
• Educational/commentary purpose statement
• Copyright ownership acknowledgment
• Takedown contact information

Key phrases: “Fair use,” “educational purposes,” “commentary and criticism”

9. Affiliate Marketing Disclaimer

Why you need it: Required by FTC guidelines when earning commissions from affiliate links.

What it should include:

• Clear affiliate relationship disclosure
• Commission earning statement
• FTC compliance reference
• Product recommendation policy

Key phrases: “Affiliate links,” “may receive commission,” “FTC guidelines,” “price not affected”

FTC Requirement: Must be placed close to affiliate links and be easily noticeable.

10. AI-Generated Content Disclaimer (Trending for 2025)

Why you need it: Increasingly important as AI content becomes more common and regulations develop.

Example disclaimer:

This website may contain content generated or assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies. All AI-generated content is reviewed by our human team before publication, but we cannot guarantee complete accuracy. Any opinions expressed in AI-generated content do not necessarily reflect the views of [Your Company Name] or its employees. Users should verify information independently before making decisions based on AI-generated content.

What it should include:

• AI assistance disclosure
• Human review acknowledgment
• Accuracy limitations
• Opinion clarifications

11. Social Media Disclaimer

Why you need it: For businesses with active social media presence to manage user-generated content and employee posts.

What it should include:

• Third-party content non-responsibility
• Community guidelines reference
• Employee vs. company views distinction
• Content removal rights

Key phrases: “Not responsible for user content,” “views are individual,” “community guidelines”

12. No Warranty Disclaimer

Why you need it: Limits liability for website functionality, product performance, and service delivery.

What it should include:

• “As is” provision language
• Website availability disclaimers
• Functionality limitation statements
• Service interruption coverage

Key phrases: “As is,” “no warranty,” “website availability,” “uninterrupted service”

13. Limitation of Liability Disclaimer

Why you need it: Protects against product liability and performance claims for e-commerce and service businesses.

What it should include:

• Performance limitation statements
• Individual results variations
• Proper use requirements
• Warranty exclusions

Key phrases: “Individual results,” “proper use required,” “no performance guarantee”

14. Third-Party Links Disclaimer

Why you need it: Protects against liability from external websites you link to.

Example disclaimer:

Our website may contain links to external sites that are not operated by us. Please be aware that we have no control over the content and practices of these sites, and cannot accept responsibility or liability for their respective privacy policies or content. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such websites. These links are provided for convenience and informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or approval by [Your Company Name] of any products, services, or opinions mentioned on these external sites.

What it should include:

• No control over external sites statement
• Content responsibility disclaimer
• Privacy policy variations warning
• Link accuracy limitations

15. Comments/User-Generated Content Disclaimer

Why you need it: Essential if you allow comments, reviews, or any user-submitted content on your website.

What it should include:

• User opinion clarification
• Content moderation rights
• Company view distinction
• Removal policy statement

Key phrases: “User opinions,” “not company views,” “moderation rights,” “may remove content”

Industry-Specific Disclaimer Examples

Fitness/Nutrition Websites

Example disclaimer:

The fitness and nutritional information on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician before beginning any exercise program or making changes to your diet. If you experience any pain or discomfort during exercise, stop immediately and consult a healthcare professional. Individual results may vary. We are not responsible for any injuries that may occur from following the exercise routines or nutritional advice provided on this website.

Must include: Exercise safety warnings, nutritional information accuracy limitations, and physician consultation requirements.

Recipe/Food Blogs

Example disclaimer:

Nutritional information provided is estimated and intended as a courtesy only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of nutritional data as ingredients and preparation methods may vary. Please verify nutritional information independently if you have specific dietary requirements. Always check ingredient labels for allergens before preparing recipes. If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, consult with a healthcare professional before trying new recipes.

Include: Nutritional estimate disclaimers, allergen warnings, and dietary restriction advisories.

Technology/Software Sites

Example disclaimer:

The technical information and software recommendations on this website are provided for educational purposes only. Technology changes rapidly, and while we strive to provide current information, we make no guarantees that the information will work in all environments or with all configurations. Users should test all recommendations in a safe development environment before implementing in production systems. We are not responsible for any system failures, data loss, or other damages that may result from following our technical guidance.

Include: Software compatibility disclaimers, testing environment recommendations, and configuration variation warnings.

E-commerce Platforms

Example disclaimer:

Product availability, pricing, and specifications are subject to change without notice. While we strive to provide accurate product information, we cannot guarantee that all product descriptions, images, or pricing are error-free. Colors may appear differently on various monitors. Shipping times are estimates and may vary based on location and product availability. Returns and exchanges are subject to our return policy. We reserve the right to limit quantities and refuse service.

Include: Product availability disclaimers, shipping limitation statements, and return policy references.

Where to Place Disclaimers on Your Website

Footer Placement

Most websites place disclaimers in the footer with links to a dedicated disclaimer page. This ensures accessibility from every page while maintaining clean design.

Dedicated Disclaimer Page

Create a comprehensive disclaimer page including all relevant disclaimers for your website. Link from your footer alongside Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Contextual Placement

• Affiliate disclaimers: Must be placed near affiliate links for FTC compliance
• Earnings disclaimers: Should appear near income claims or testimonials
• Medical disclaimers: Place on health-related content pages
• Professional disclaimers: Include on advice or consultation pages

Email Signatures

This isn’t on your website, but if you do business communications should include relevant disclaimers in email signatures. A confidential email disclaimer in your signature helps protect sensitive business communications and establishes professional boundaries.

Legal Compliance Requirements You Should Know

FTC Guidelines

The Federal Trade Commission requires clear disclosure of:

• Affiliate relationships and paid partnerships
• Material connections between endorsers and brands
• Earnings claims and typical results
• Sponsored content identification

Best Practices for Effective Disclaimer Examples

1. Use Clear, Plain Language

Avoid complex legal jargon when creating your disclaimers. Write disclaimers your average user can understand while maintaining legal effectiveness.

2. Make Them Visible

Don’t hide disclaimer examples in fine print. Use readable fonts, appropriate contrast, and clear placement so users can easily find your disclaimer statements.

3. Keep Them Updated

Review and update your disclaimer examples annually or when making significant business model changes. Fresh disclaimer content shows you’re actively protecting your business.

4. Be Specific to Your Business

Generic disclaimers are less effective than those tailored to your specific business risks and activities. Customize sample disclaimers to match your unique situation.

5. Get Professional Review

Have an attorney review your disclaimers, especially if you’re in a regulated industry or handle sensitive topics. Professional disclaimer templates often provide better protection than basic examples.

Common Disclaimer Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using outdated or generic disclaimer examples that don’t match your business
2. Forgetting to update disclaimers when business practices change
3. Hiding disclaimers or using unreadable fonts
4. Missing required FTC disclosures for affiliate or sponsored content
5. Assuming disclaimers provide complete protection without proper business practices
6. Failing to place disclaimers where legally required (like near affiliate links)
7. Not customizing disclaimer templates to your specific business risks
8. Using example disclaimer language without legal review for high-risk businesses

Frequently Asked Questions About Disclaimer Examples

Do disclaimers provide complete legal protection?

No, disclaimers are one tool in your legal protection strategy alongside proper business practices, insurance, and professional legal advice. They’re not guarantees against lawsuits but can significantly reduce liability exposure.

How to write a disclaimer for my specific business?

Start by identifying your business risks, then choose appropriate disclaimers that match your industry. Customize the disclaimer language to your specific services and risks. Consider using professional disclaimer templates for comprehensive coverage.

Can I use a do not copy disclaimer for my content?

Yes, copyright disclaimers help protect original content. Include copyright notices, usage restrictions, and permission requirements to protect your intellectual property.

How often should I update my disclaimers?

Review disclaimers annually and update them whenever you:

• Change your business model or services
• Add new products or content types
• Enter new markets or jurisdictions
• Receive legal advice to modify them
• Update website functionality

Can I copy disclaimers from other websites?

While you can use disclaimer examples for reference, copying directly may not provide adequate protection and could create legal issues. Example disclaimers should be customized to your specific business risks and activities.

What’s the difference between disclaimers and terms of service?

Disclaimers limit liability and set expectations, while terms of service create contractual agreements governing website use. Both are important for comprehensive legal protection.

Get Professional, Attorney-Drafted Disclaimer Templates

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✅ 9+ attorney-drafted disclaimer & disclosure templates with fill-in-the-blank customization
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