Legal English Lesson: How to Simplify One of the Wordiest Clauses Ever Written

Do you ever feel like contract clauses are written with a thesaurus in one hand and a hammer in the other?

Let’s talk about one of the worst offenders against brevity: stacked verbs.

When you learn English, especially Legal English, you're often told that repetition in legal writing is a good thing. That it makes your drafting more thorough and more precise. But the truth is, a lot of that repetition is just old habits and legal folklore we’re too afraid to let go of.

And this week, as I was outlining this post, one of my brilliant newsletter readers sent in a clause that perfectly illustrates why less really is more when it comes to contract drafting.

Let’s take a look:

📜 What the clause says…

(Warning: This legal English beast clocks in at 402 words.)

👉 Click here to skip to the human-friendly version.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, and except as herein otherwise provided, each party releases and relinquishes all rights and claims against the other party and his or her agents, attorneys and servants, and each of the parties does hereby forever relinquish, release, waive and forever quitclaim and grant to the other, his or her heirs, personal representatives and assigns, all rights of maintenance, alimony, inheritance, descent and distribution, homestead, dower, community interest and all other right, title, claim, interest and estate as Husband and Wife, widow or widower, whether existing by reason of the marital relation between said parties hereto pursuant to any present or future law, or otherwise including any and all right, title, claim or interest which he or she otherwise has or might have or be entitled to claim in, to or against the property, assets and estate of the other, whether real, personal or mixed, whether marital or non-marital, whether community or separate, whether now owned or hereafter in any manner acquired by the other party, whether in possession or in expectancy and whether vested or contingent, and for all damages and/or injuries arising out of the intentional or unintentional acts by either party against the other, whether or not within or incident to the marriage relationship existing between the parties.  Each party further covenants and agrees for himself or herself, his or her heirs, personal representatives and assigns, that neither of them shall at any time hereafter sue the other or his or her estate, heirs, personal representatives, grantees, devisees or assigns, agents or servants for the purpose of enforcing any rights specified to be released, waived or relinquished under this Agreement; and each party further agrees that in the event any suit shall be commenced, this release, when pleaded, shall be and constitute a complete defense thereto.  Each party further agrees to execute, acknowledge and deliver at the request of the other party, or his or her heirs, personal representatives, grantees, devisees, or assigns, any or all deeds, releases or other instruments and further assurances as may be required or reasonably requested to effect or evidence such release, waiver or relinquishment of such rights; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall operate or be construed as a waiver or release by either party to the other of the obligation on the part of the other to comply with the express provisions of this Agreement."

✅ What the clause means…

(The human-friendly version)

To the fullest extent allowed by law, and unless this Agreement provides otherwise, each party fully and permanently releases the other, as well as their agents, attorneys, and representatives, from all claims and rights arising from their marriage. This includes rights to maintenance, alimony, inheritance, property distribution, and any claims to the other party’s assets, whether real or personal, marital or non-marital, currently owned or acquired in the future, and whether those rights are vested or contingent.

Each party agrees not to bring any legal action in the future to enforce any of the rights released under this Agreement. If a lawsuit is filed anyway, this clause will serve as a complete defense.

Each party also agrees to sign any documents reasonably requested by the other to confirm or carry out this release. However, this clause does not affect either party’s obligation to follow the specific terms of this Agreement.

🧠 So what can we learn from this?

Here are 6 practical drafting lessons to make your contract clauses clearer, leaner, and easier to digest, without losing legal effect.

1. Cut the verb clutter

❌ Instead of this:“releases and relinquishes... does hereby forever relinquish, release, waive and forever quitclaim…”

✅ Do this:“fully and permanently releases…”

👉 Why: These verbs are near-synonyms. One strong verb does the job, especially when paired with words like fully and permanently.

2. Group people logically

❌ Instead of this:“the other party and his or her agents, attorneys and servants…”

✅ Do this:“the other, as well as their agents, attorneys, and representatives…”

👉 Why: “Representatives” is modern and inclusive. “Servants” can go.

3. Tame the long lists

❌ Instead of this:“…all right, title, claim, interest and estate as Husband and Wife, widow or widower… real, personal or mixed…”

✅ Do this:“…claims to the other party’s assets, whether real or personal, marital or non-marital, currently owned or acquired in the future…”

👉  Why: Use umbrella terms and parallel structure to make your list readable and complete.

4. Say what you mean about lawsuits

❌ Instead of this:“…that neither of them shall at any time hereafter sue the other… and that this release, when pleaded, shall be and constitute a complete defense thereto.”

✅ Do this:“Each party agrees not to bring any legal action… If a lawsuit is filed anyway, this clause will serve as a complete defense.”

👉 Why: Drop the legalese and keep the meaning. Clear language is enforceable language.

5. Don’t overcomplicate document signing

❌ Instead of this:“…agrees to execute, acknowledge and deliver… any or all deeds, releases or other instruments and further assurances…”

✅ Do this:“…agrees to sign any documents reasonably requested… to confirm or carry out this release.”

👉 Why: Plain English works, unless your jurisdiction says otherwise.

6. Keep exceptions simple

❌ Instead of this:“…provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall operate or be construed as a waiver…”

✅ Do this:“However, this clause does not affect either party’s obligation to follow the specific terms of this Agreement.”

👉 Why: Same protection. Less brain strain.

✨ Want to get better at this?

If you found this breakdown helpful and want to practice transforming legalese into clear, confident English, I’ve got something for you.

The Contract English Accelerator is my new course launching in January 2026, and it’s designed to help lawyers, legal translators, and professionals like you write English contracts with precision, clarity, and confidence.

We’ll also cover how to use AI as a drafting assistant, because even the most advanced tools can’t compensate for unclear thinking or weak legal structure. If your input is cluttered, your output will be too.

Get on the waitlist now and be the first to:

• Preview the course curriculum

• Join free live classes in November

• Claim early bird bonuses

👉 Join the waitlist here

(And yes, there’s a giveaway coming… waitlist members will be eligible for a full scholarship.)

See you inside,

Paula