Last reviewed by Robert Prime, 12 October 2026. Legal points checked that day against the Defamation Act 2013, the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977, section 2 and the Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 65. This is general information, not legal advice; if your book names a real person in a bad light, talk to a media lawyer before you publish.
Quick Answer: Put one short disclaimer paragraph on your copyright page. Fiction: “This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.” Memoir: “This is a true story as I remember it; some names and identifying details have been changed.” Self-help: “This book is general information, not professional advice.” The templates below are ready to paste. A disclaimer helps show what you intended. It does not stop a defamation claim or remove liability you cannot exclude by law.
Table of Contents
- Where the disclaimer goes
- Fiction disclaimer templates
- Memoir and life-story disclaimer templates
- Self-help, health and money disclaimer templates
- Other disclaimers you may need
- What a disclaimer cannot do
- Common mistakes
- Frequently asked questions
Where the disclaimer goes
On the copyright page, at the bottom, after the ISBNs and publisher details. That is where readers, retailers and anyone looking for trouble expect to find it. Our copyright page template shows the whole page with a disclaimer line already in place, and the free copyright page generator will write it for you.
Self-help and health books often repeat a short version at the start of the first chapter, or before any exercise or diet plan, because readers skip copyright pages. That is sensible: a warning nobody reads warns nobody.
In an ebook the copyright page usually moves to the back (see the parts of a book in order). If your disclaimer is a safety warning, keep a copy at the front.
Fiction disclaimer templates
Standard novel
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.Novel with real places and historical figures
This is a work of fiction. While some real places, institutions and historical figures appear, they are used fictitiously, and the events and conversations involving them are imagined. All other characters are the products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental.Inspired by true events
This novel is inspired by real events, but it is a work of fiction. Characters have been invented or composited, names and identifying details have been changed, and timelines have been compressed. Dialogue is imagined. It should not be read as an account of what any real person said or did.Fan of a real brand, band or place
All product names, brands and trademarks mentioned in this book belong to their respective owners. Their use is for storytelling only and does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement by, them.That last one is about trademarks rather than people. Whether you need it at all is covered in can I use brand names in my novel?
Memoir and life-story disclaimer templates
Standard memoir
This is a work of non-fiction. It reflects the author's present recollections of experiences over time. Some names and identifying characteristics have been changed to protect the privacy of the people involved, some events have been compressed, and some dialogue has been recreated from memory.Memoir with changed names flagged
The events in this book are true as I remember them. To protect their privacy, I have changed the names and identifying details of everyone except my immediate family and those who gave me permission to use their real names.Family history or biography
This book draws on family records, letters, interviews and the author's memory. Where sources disagree the author has chosen the most likely account and said so in the notes. Any errors are the author's own.Memoir is the highest-risk genre for defamation because the people in it are real and identifiable by definition. Changing a name does not help if friends, colleagues or a whole village would still know who you mean. Our guide to using real people in your writing walks through the risk factors.
Self-help, health and money disclaimer templates
General self-help or business book
This book is for general information only. It is not intended to replace professional advice tailored to your circumstances. The author and publisher have made every effort to ensure the information is accurate at the time of publication but make no warranty that it is complete or current. Any use of the information is at the reader's own discretion.Health, fitness, diet and mental health
The information in this book is not medical advice and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor or another qualified health professional. Consult a health professional before starting any diet, exercise or treatment programme, especially if you are pregnant, taking medication or have a medical condition. If you are in crisis, contact your GP, NHS 111 or emergency services.Money, investing and tax
This book is for general information and education. It is not financial, investment, tax or legal advice, and nothing in it is a recommendation to buy or sell any investment. Tax rules and allowances change; check the current position with HMRC or a qualified adviser before acting. The value of investments can go down as well as up.Cookbook
Readers with food allergies or intolerances should check every ingredient label. Cooking times and temperatures are a guide; ovens vary. Make sure meat, fish and eggs are cooked thoroughly.Write these in plain words and keep them short. A wall of capital letters reads like you are hiding something, and it is the substance of the book, not the disclaimer, that decides whether you took reasonable care.
Other disclaimers you may need
- Affiliate links. If your ebook or website earns commission from links, say so plainly where the links appear.
- Out-of-date facts. “Prices, laws and websites mentioned were correct at [month year]” saves angry reviews on any practical book.
- AI-generated content. Not something that goes in the book, but KDP’s content guidelines say “We require you to inform us of AI-generated content (text, images, or translations) when you publish”. AI-assisted editing does not need disclosing. Keep your own record of what you used.
- Views of contributors. For anthologies: “The views expressed are those of the individual contributors.”
What a disclaimer cannot do
Authors tend to think a disclaimer is a legal force field. It is not, and it helps to know exactly why.
It does not stop a defamation claim. In England and Wales, section 1 of the Defamation Act 2013 says a statement “is not defamatory unless its publication has caused or is likely to cause serious harm to the reputation of the claimant.” The defences the Act gives you are that what you said was substantially true (s.2), was honest opinion with its basis indicated (s.3), or was a publication on a matter of public interest that you reasonably believed should be published (s.4). A disclaimer is not on the list. If readers recognise the vicious ex-husband in your novel as your actual ex-husband, the “any resemblance is coincidental” line is not a defence. Legislation.gov.uk shows the Act’s extent as England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
It cannot exclude liability for death or injury caused by negligence. Section 2(1) of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 says a person “cannot by reference to any contract term or to a notice … exclude or restrict his liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence.” For traders dealing with consumers, section 65 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 says the same, and adds that a reader is not to be taken to have accepted a risk “merely because the person agreed to or knew about the term or notice.” Other losses can only be excluded where the notice is reasonable (UCTA s.2(2)). So a health disclaimer is a sensible warning, but it does not make careless advice safe to publish.
What it does do: it tells readers what kind of book they are holding, sets expectations, points them to proper advice, and is evidence of what you intended. That is worth one paragraph.
Common mistakes
Copying a US disclaimer with “fair use” or US state law in it. The UK has fair dealing, not fair use (see our fair dealing guide). Strip anything that names US law.
Relying on the disclaimer instead of changing details. If a real person could be identified, change the details that identify them: job, town, appearance, history. The disclaimer comes second.
Hiding the health warning on the copyright page only. If a reader could get hurt following your book, put the warning where they will see it, before the exercise or the plan.
Promising results in the blurb and disclaiming them inside. “Lose a stone in 14 days” on the cover and “results not guaranteed” on page iv do not sit well together. Make the cover claims ones you can stand behind.
Using fiction wording on a memoir. “Any resemblance to actual persons is coincidental” in a book about your real family is simply untrue, and it undermines everything else on the page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I legally have to put a disclaimer in my book?
There is no general rule in UK law that a book must carry one. Most published books do, because it costs one paragraph and sets expectations.
Does “any resemblance to real persons is coincidental” protect me from being sued?
No. In England and Wales the question is whether the statement caused or is likely to cause serious harm to a real person’s reputation (Defamation Act 2013 s.1), and the defences are truth, honest opinion and public interest. A disclaimer is useful evidence of your intent but it is not a defence.
Where does the disclaimer go?
At the bottom of the copyright page. For health or safety warnings, also put a short version where the reader will see it before acting.
Can I use one disclaimer for all my books?
The fiction one, yes, across a series. Non-fiction disclaimers should fit the subject: a cookbook and a money book need different warnings.
Should a memoir say “names have been changed”?
If you changed them, yes. Say what you changed and why, and do not claim to have changed details you left as they were.
Do I need a disclaimer on the Kindle edition too?
Yes. Use the same wording. If it is a safety warning, keep it at the front even if you move the rest of the copyright page to the back.
Final thoughts
Pick the template that matches your book, put it on the copyright page, and add a short warning where the reader needs it if your book could lead someone to act on their health or money. Then do the real protection work: change identifying details, check facts, and keep your notes.
The free copyright page generator builds the page your disclaimer sits on in two minutes. If you are also quoting other people’s work or hiring a cover designer or ghostwriter, the UK Author Legal Pack has the permission-to-quote letter and the contracts.
— Robert publishing.co.uk
