---
title: Refusing to sign a settlement agreement
description: Refusing to sign is not always the same as revoking or rescinding a Dutch settlement agreement. Learn which legal situation applies and what to do.
author: Edwin van Jaarsveld
url: https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/en/refusing-to-sign-settlement-agreement
---

![](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/templates/yootheme/cache/17/shutterstock_499576012-1-gespiegeld-177f0f5e.jpeg)

## Refusing to sign does not always constitute rescission

If you have not agreed to anything in writing, you can usually simply reject the proposal. If written agreement has already been reached, for example by email or through authorised representatives, a settlement agreement may legally already have been concluded.

In the latter case, merely declining to sign is risky. Within the statutory cooling-off period, use a clear written notice of revocation.

[Read about the cooling-off period](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/index.php?Itemid=2767)

**1**Check whether written acceptance has already been given

**2**If in doubt, revoke immediately in writing and verifiably

![](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/templates/yootheme/cache/96/vaststellingsovereenkomst_controleren-96bd91d6.jpeg)

## Three situations you must distinguish

**1. No agreement yet:** you reject the proposal; there is nothing to rescind.

**2. Written agreement:** the agreement may already exist, even without a signature on the final document.

**3. Timely revocation:** within the cooling-off period, you state unequivocally that you no longer wish to be bound by the agreement.

[How does revocation work?](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/index.php?Itemid=2773)

## What happened in the court case?

In a case before the District Court of The Hague, an employee's legal adviser had accepted a draft. When the document was presented for signature, the employee refused to sign within fourteen days.

The question was whether, in those specific circumstances, that refusal could be treated as reliance on the statutory cooling-off right.

### Why did the court accept the refusal?

The court considered the refusal clear and unequivocal and, in this case, treated it as a timely revocation. The wording of the agreement, the timing of the refusal and the communications between the parties played an important role.

This is not a safe general rule. An oral or ambiguous refusal can lead to a dispute. Therefore, always record revocation separately, in writing and in a verifiable manner.

[Have your situation reviewed](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/index.php?Itemid=2455)

## Read more about your options

Read when the cooling-off period begins, how to revoke an agreement and which period applies in your situation.

[Cooling-off period](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/index.php?Itemid=2767)

[Revoking or rescinding](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/index.php?Itemid=2773)

[Start of the cooling-off period](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/index.php?Itemid=2782)

![](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/templates/yootheme/cache/df/edwinportret-gigapixel-low_res-scale-4_00x-df0dd30f.jpeg)

About the author

### Mr. Edwin van Jaarsveld

Edwin van Jaarsveld has over 20 years of experience with dismissal cases and regularly publishes about them.

**Edwin’s expertise can also be found on:**

[![](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/templates/yootheme/cache/c9/linkedin-logo-c9bd4b88.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwin-van-jaarsveld-4746691b/?originalSubdomain=nl)

[![](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/templates/yootheme/cache/85/paroo2l-85019151.png)](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/images/bekend_van/artikelen/Stel_bij_ontslag_alles_ter_discussie__Het_Parool1.pdf)

[![](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/templates/yootheme/cache/2e/ad-2eae40c9.jpeg)](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/images/bekend_van/artikelen/Drugs_op_zak_maar_niet_gebruikt_Ontslag_op_staande_voet_is_wellicht_te_zwaar.pdf)

[![](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/templates/yootheme/cache/75/brisk1-75fa8d97.jpeg)](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/images/bekend_van/artikelen/BC_-_Tien_tips_voor_werkgevers_bij_ontslag_wegens_disfunctioneren.pdf)

[![](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/templates/yootheme/cache/47/mtsprout-4785aa81.png)](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/images/bekend_van/artikelen/Persbericht__Ontslag_op_staande_voet_een_weg_vol_risicos__MT_Sprout.pdf)

## Would you like to prevent your refusal from being misinterpreted?

Have it assessed immediately whether an agreement has already been formed and, if necessary, promptly send an unequivocal written notice of revocation.

[Have your position reviewed](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/index.php?Itemid=2455)

[Read about the cooling-off period](https://vaststellingsovereenkomst.org/index.php?Itemid=2767)