Fremont Severance Agreement Lawyer
Trusted Severance Agreement Attorney in Fremont, CA
Finding out that you’re going to lose your job can be a humiliating, infuriating, and terrifying experience all at the same time. California labor laws do not require companies to offer a severance package to their terminated employees, so you may want to consider yourself lucky if you are offered one. However, it’s always recommended that you have experienced legal counsel look over the agreement before signing. A Fremont severance agreement lawyer can help you.
The legal team at Valerian Law, P.C. knows how complicated a severance agreement case can become, especially if the terms in the agreement are somewhat harmful or disrespectful to your time at the company. California’s severance agreement laws are not black and white. Without the help of a Fremont severance agreement attorney, you could lose more than you expect. Our firm can bring years of employment law experience to your case and help you move forward.
Severance Agreements in California
If you decide to take your severance agreement case to court in Fremont, your case is generally handled by the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda. This is the court that handles the majority of breach of contract claims and other general civil claims. Severance agreements remain fairly common throughout California. In December 2025 alone, there were approximately 232,000 layoffs and discharges in California. Some of them came with severance packages.
It’s important to keep in mind that California is an at-will employment state. This means that your company can terminate your employment without cause whenever they want. While there are certain reasons for termination that would be illegal, such as breach of contract, retaliation, or discrimination, they still do not have to provide you with a severance agreement. There were 17,992,600 payroll jobs in California in 2025. None of them require severance. It’s voluntary.
What’s in a Severance Agreement?
Many people believe that a severance agreement is simply a check with a figure on it that reflects years of good work with your company. While financial compensation is a common feature in most severance agreements, it’s far from the complete package. A severance agreement is actually a carefully calculated contract that’s designed to take certain legal and financial pressures off the company. Here are some of the most common features of a severance agreement:
- Health insurance. Any good severance package provides important details about how to handle your health insurance going forward. When you lose your job, losing your health insurance may be your first or most immediate concern, which is understandable. Your severance agreement may contain information regarding the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) and how much longer you can expect coverage.
- Confidentiality agreement. One of the most common elements of a severance agreement is a legally binding confidentiality agreement you are required to sign. Depending on your company’s business and what your position was, you may be privy to certain trade secrets and other confidential information. Signing an agreement may be a good way for your company to make sure you don’t try to use this information as leverage in the future.
- General Release of Claims. Your company’s ultimate goal with a severance agreement is to prevent you from ever making a legal claim against them for wrongful termination. They are likely going to have you sign a General Release of Claims form and a Covenant Not to Sue form. These documents prevent you from ever taking legal action of any kind against the company.
- Severance pay. It’s likely your severance agreement is going to include either a lump sum cash amount or a salary continuation for a fixed period of time. The amount you are awarded in severance pay is generally calculated based on your length of service. Your final payout may include unused paid time off, which is legally required in California even if there is no severance agreement.
FAQs
FAQS DISCLAIMER
The questions and answers presented in the FAQ are not intended to be exhaustive and do not constitute legal advice for your particular question, issue, or concern, nor does this FAQ create any attorney-client relationship or duty on our part to assist you. The information may help you think about your issues and ask the right questions if you choose to consult with an attorney.
How Much Does It Cost to Have a Lawyer Look Over a Severance Agreement?
There is no telling how much it may cost you to have a lawyer look over your severance agreement. Every severance case is different, with every case having unique contributing factors that may influence the cost of a lawyer. Those factors often include the length of the document itself, the scope of what you’re asking the lawyer to do, and whether or not the lawyer’s office is in a major metro area. Still, you should hire a severance agreement lawyer.
Is It Worth Getting a Lawyer for a Severance Agreement?
Yes, it is worth getting a lawyer for a severance agreement. If you have a high-value severance package and suspect that your employer is either holding out on you or lowballing you, it’s recommended that you hire a severance agreement lawyer to look through the agreement. If nothing else, they can give you peace of mind that you’re not being taken advantage of. If you are, then they can help you negotiate better terms.
What Is a Normal Severance Package in California?
A normal severance package in California, if your company is gracious enough to provide you one at all, generally contains severance pay of one to two weeks of base pay per year of service, as well as accrued vacation time, health insurance continuation, outplacement services, and equity or bonuses if your employment contract calls for it. California is an at-will employment state, so no employer legally has to provide severance at all.
Is Severance Pay 100% of Your Salary?
No, severance pay is not automatically 100% of your salary. Severance is completely discretionary in California unless guaranteed by your employment contract. When you are offered severance pay, it’s usually calculated at a fraction of your pay that’s generally different for every employer. A severance agreement lawyer can help you calculate how much you would receive if you signed the agreement. If it’s low, they can help you negotiate.
Make Sure You Hire a Severance Agreement Lawyer
At Valerian Law, P.C., we can assist you in looking through your severance agreement, finding any areas where your employer is taking advantage of you, and negotiating on your behalf for better, stronger terms. Contact us to speak with someone on our team who can provide you with the right kind of assistance.
