Legal pages might not be the most exciting part of your website, but they are one of the most important. Whether you are just starting out or refreshing your current site, having the right legal information in place helps protect both your business and your audience.

If you are not sure where to begin, here are the core legal policies every website should have, along with a few that may apply depending on your business.

#1 – Terms and Conditions

This is the foundation of your website’s legal framework. It sets the rules for how people can use your website and what is expected of them. Terms and Conditions typically include things like intellectual property rights, limitations of liability, and what happens if someone misuses your content or services. Even if you are not selling anything on your site, it is still a good idea to include this page.

#2 – Privacy Policy

A Privacy Policy is legally required in most countries if your website collects any personal data—such as names, emails, or IP addresses. It explains what data you collect, how you use it, and how it is stored. Even something as simple as having a contact form or using website analytics means you are collecting data, so this is a must-have for every website.

#3 – Disclaimer

Disclaimers protect you by clarifying what your content is and is not. For example, if you offer advice, you can use a disclaimer to state that your content is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal, medical, financial, or professional advice. This is especially important for service providers, educators, or coaches.

#4 – Testimonial Disclaimer

If you feature client testimonials or success stories on your site, it is important to include a brief disclaimer noting that results are not guaranteed and may vary from person to person. This helps manage expectations and provides clarity to future clients, especially if your work is results-driven.

#5 – Service-Specific Policy

Depending on the services you offer, you may want to create additional terms that apply only to specific offerings—such as timelines, payment schedules, client responsibilities, or cancellation policies. These can either be included in your main Terms and Conditions or added to specific service pages.

Business-Specific Policies

Depending on the type of business you run, there are a few other policies you might need:

• Shipping Policy – If you sell physical products, this explains how and when orders are shipped, and what customers can expect.
• Return & Refund Policy – This outlines your terms for returns, refunds, and exchanges so customers know exactly what to do if something goes wrong.
• Payment Terms – Useful if you take deposits, offer payment plans, or work with invoices.

These do not apply to everyone, but they are important if you run an eCommerce shop or offer client services that involve payments.

Final Thoughts

Taking time to set up these legal pages shows you take your business seriously. Every Mary+Joseph template includes built-in pages with placeholder text for Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers, so you can simply update the text with your own policies. And remember to check the links in your footer—each one should point to the correct legal page.

Legal responsibility may not be the most exciting part of running a business but it is vital to protect you and your website visitors from any potential misunderstanding or miscommunication.