When writing a book, if specific people are mentioned by name must you get releases signed?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
When writing a book, if specific people are mentioned by name must you get releases signed?
I’m currently in the process of writing a book. I am a married man with 3 stepchildren. My wife and kids are going to be mentioned in the book. Do I need them to sign consent forms or can I use pseudonames?
Asked on September 9, 2011 under Personal Injury, Missouri
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Since you are writing a book where your wife and three (3) step children are specifically mentioned by name in it, it would be a good idea for each of them to sign a specific release to you allowing the use of specific reference of them. The document should be dates and signed by each of them before a notary public.
Better practice is not to use the names of your wife and stepchildren in the book. Most authors do not make specific reference to actual people that a writing is about and in the book's preface makes some reference that "any reference to specific individuals alive or not is specifically a coincidence."
You need to be aware that some people may desire a sense of privacy and do not want specific reference to themselves in a book.
Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.