What is the purpose of a release-of-information form and what should it specify?

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A release-of-information form is about authorizing the sharing of a client’s protected information with specific people or organizations. It should lay out exactly who may receive the data, what information can be disclosed (the data types or records), the purpose of the disclosure (why it’s being shared), and how long the authorization remains in effect (the duration or expiration). This clarity protects privacy, supports ethical practice, and helps ensure disclosures are intentional and limited to what’s necessary for care or coordination.

In practice, you might use it to share information with a parent, another clinician, a school or employer as authorized, or a payer—but only under the specified conditions. The form may also include notes about revoking the authorization and any limits on the data that can be released. It’s not a general consent to treatment or a mechanism for documenting goals, nor is it the form used to notify insurance about services.