Also known as: at-will · employment at will · at-will employment
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A legal relationship or interest that either party may terminate at any time without cause and without a fixed duration.
Brook Connect allows Bright Satellite to place equipment on its rooftop under an oral understanding that either party may end the arrangement if it proves unsatisfactory. Bright Satellite takes possession but no term is fixed. When Brook Connect later demands removal, the arrangement ends immediately because the interest is terminable at the will of either party.
Harbor Freight Lines orally agrees with the Bayport Port Authority to use a dock for ten years but the writing requirement is not met. Harbor Freight takes possession. The arrangement creates a tenancy at will because the lease is invalid under the statute of frauds and possession alone produces only an interest terminable at either party's discretion.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Astra Aerospace attempts to grant Atlas Ventures an access easement across its land but the conveyance lacks the required writing. Atlas Ventures begins using the path anyway. The benefit of the intended servitude is terminable at will by Astra Aerospace because the statute of frauds was not satisfied.
Alpine Mining adopts a corporate seal under its articles. The board later decides the design is outdated and replaces it with a new emblem. The change is valid because the corporation possesses power to alter its seal at will.
Interactive Data Corp. hires an employee without a fixed term or for-cause provision. After the employee reports suspected illegal activity the company terminates the relationship. The discharge is lawful because the employment is terminable at the employer's will.
The City of East Cleveland employs a worker whose position is defined by state law as terminable at the employer's discretion. The city ends the employment without a hearing. The worker has no property interest in continued employment because the position exists at will.
A tenancy at will ends at any time upon notice from either party and has no designated period. A periodic tenancy continues for successive intervals unless terminated and arises when rent is paid and accepted after an invalid lease.
Supporting sources
An oral lease for more than one year that fails the statute of frauds creates a tenancy at will if the tenant takes possession but the parties do not engage in substantial performance clearly referable to the lease terms.
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Yes. Either party may end the relationship without notice or cause unless an exception such as public policy or an implied contract applies.
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None. The employee lacks a property interest protected by due process because the position is terminable at the employer's discretion under state law.
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…That the Court has ample precedent for the creation of new constitutional rights should not lead it to repeat the process at will. The Judiciary, including this Court, is the most vulnerable and comes nearest to illegitimacy when it deals with judge-made constitutional law having little or no cognizable roots in the…