Already signed a severance agreement? What you can still do

The short answer

Signing does not end everything. If you are 40 or older and released age claims, you generally have 7 days after signing to revoke. Some rights cannot be waived at all, such as filing a charge with a government agency. And you can still get a complete copy of what you signed and check that your final pay matches it.

If you are 40 or over

A release of age claims carries a 7-day revocation window after signing. The date you signed starts it. If that window is still open, it is the most time-sensitive thing on this page.

What a signature does not take

Filing a charge with a government agency such as the EEOC or the Civil Rights Department.
Wages already owed, including vested vacation.
Reimbursement of necessary work expenses.

Get your copy

Ask in writing for the complete signed agreement, every attachment it refers to, and the e-signature certificate of completion. Labor Code 432 gives you a copy on request.

Check the money

Compare the final pay statement with the agreement, line by line. Check the payment date the agreement promised. Taxes withheld are a prepayment, not your final tax.

When to talk to someone

If something in the agreement seems untrue, if a payment is late, or if you think something unlawful happened, a lawyer or a free legal aid program can tell you what still applies. Deadlines for agency complaints keep running after you sign.

Common questions

Can I take back my signature?

If you are 40 or older and the agreement releases age claims, federal law gives you 7 days after signing to revoke, and that window cannot be shortened. Otherwise, whether you can undo an agreement is a question for a lawyer.

I cannot open the agreement I signed. What now?

Labor Code 432 entitles you to a copy of a document you signed, on request. Ask in writing, and ask for the signing certificate too.