severability
Clause independence doctrine
Severability is the legal principle that invalid portions of a contract or statute can be removed while the rest remains in force.
A severability clause explicitly states this intention: If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in effect.
Courts apply severability to preserve as much of an agreement or law as possible when part of it fails.
Provision in agreement
- enforceabilityCapacity for legal compulsion
- contractEnforceable written agreement
- voidWithout legal effect
- unenforceableLacking legal force
rescission · reformation · divisibility · boilerplate · drafting · interpretation · remainder · strike
Enacted written rule
- provisionPreparatory supply or clause
- enactmentPassing into law
- actDeed or performance
- amendmentChange to official text
regulation · ordinance · code · constitutional · unconstitutional · judicial review · striking down · legislative intent
Capable of being divided
- divisibleAble to be separated
- detachableAble to be unfastened
- independentFree from external control
- modularMade of separable units
standalone · compartmentalized · isolable · discrete · self-contained · partitionable · segmentable · uncoupled
clause
Provision in agreement
- enforceabilityCapacity for legal compulsion
- contractEnforceable written agreement
- voidWithout legal effect
unenforceable · rescission · reformation · divisibility · boilerplate · drafting · interpretation · remainder · strike · invalidation
statute
Enacted written rule
amendment · regulation · ordinance · code · constitutional · unconstitutional · judicial review · striking down · legislative intent · fallback
separable
Capable of being divided
- divisibleAble to be separated
- detachableAble to be unfastened
- independentFree from external control
modular · standalone · compartmentalized · isolable · discrete · self-contained · partitionable · segmentable · uncoupled · disentangled
severabilityindivisibility
Cannot be divided
inseparability · all-or-nothing · wholeness · unity · atomicity
severabilityindivisibility
Cannot be divided
mutual dependence · all-or-nothing · package deal · interdependence · conditionality
- severability clauseProvision preserving valid portions
severe, sever, severity, severed, severance, severing, severs, severable