Legal Documents You Need on Your Website

and Why They Matter

*Disclaimer* I’m not a lawyer and this should not be considered legal advice. If you have questions about your business or creating these legal pages, it is best you contact a professional.

When you're pouring your heart into your business—especially in a healing, creative, or service-based space—legal paperwork probably isn't at the top of your to-do list. But protecting your online presence with the right legal documents is one of the smartest (and simplest) ways to create a foundation of trust, safety, and professionalism. Whether you’re a coach, a wellness practitioner, or a small business owner, the truth is your website needs a few key legal pages.

These documents aren't just about covering yourself in worst-case scenarios (though they help with that, too). They're about honoring your clients’ privacy, setting respectful boundaries, and showing that you take your work seriously. Think of them as a digital handshake—letting visitors know you value integrity and transparency.

And here's the good news: you don’t need a law degree to make this happen. With a few trusted templates and tools, you can get your legal bases covered. This blog will walk you through the five most important legal documents to include on your site—and why each one matters.

Let’s simplify the legal stuff so you can feel confident, protected, and focused on what you do best: serving your people.

1. Privacy Policy

A privacy policy is one of the most critical documents on your website—especially if you collect any kind of personal information. Whether you’re asking for email addresses through a newsletter signup, tracking visitor data through analytics, or using a contact form, a privacy policy is legally required in many countries and regions, including the U.S., Canada, UK, and EU.

This document explains what kind of data you collect, how you use it, how it’s stored, and whether you share it with third parties. It's not just for big businesses—solo entrepreneurs and wellness coaches need this just as much. A clear privacy policy builds trust with your audience by showing you're transparent and responsible with their information.

If you’re using tools like Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or an email marketing platform like MailerLite or ConvertKit, those need to be disclosed. You’ll also want to include how users can opt out, request their data, or get in touch with questions.

Many website platforms offer privacy policy templates, or you can use a trusted third-party legal template provider to make sure yours is compliant with global laws.

2. Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions (sometimes called Terms of Use) serve as a basic agreement between you and your website visitors. They outline what users can and cannot do on your site, what content belongs to you, and what happens in the event of misuse.

This page is especially important if you’re offering digital content, courses, memberships, or blog posts. It’s a place to establish your copyright rights, clarify user responsibilities, and limit your liability if something goes wrong (like someone misusing your content or tech glitches).

Think of it like house rules for your website—it protects your work, sets expectations, and gives you some legal footing if issues arise. It also helps clarify how payments, cancellations, or returns are handled if you sell products or services.

While this document isn’t always legally required, it’s strongly recommended, and most users expect to see it. It can often be bundled with your privacy policy as a single “Legal” link in your website footer.

3. Disclaimer

Disclaimers are particularly important for those offering wellness services, coaching, or educational content. This document limits your liability by clearly stating that the information on your site is not a substitute for professional advice (medical, legal, financial, etc.).

For example, if you're a health coach or yoga instructor sharing general wellness tips, you’ll want to clarify that your content is informational and should not be taken as personal medical advice. This helps protect you in case someone misapplies what they read or experiences unintended results.

Disclaimers also apply if you earn affiliate income through product links. Legally, you must disclose those relationships upfront. Including a simple statement like, "This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase," covers you in most cases.

Your disclaimer doesn’t have to be long or complicated—it just needs to be honest and placed somewhere easily accessible, like your footer or in specific blog posts and pages where applicable.

4. Cookie Notice

If your website uses cookies (and most modern sites do), you may need to display a cookie notice to comply with data privacy laws like GDPR. Cookies are small data files that track user behavior, preferences, or login information—and they're often used through analytics, ads, or embedded services.

A cookie notice is that little banner or pop-up you’ve probably seen on other sites that lets users know cookies are being used, and often provides a way to accept or manage them. While this is especially important for EU visitors, it’s becoming more standard practice globally.

Platforms like Squarespace, WordPress, and Shopify offer cookie banner tools or integrations with third-party services to make compliance easier. Even if you’re not legally required to have one, it’s a good-faith gesture that shows transparency and builds trust with your visitors.

To stay compliant, you may also want to link your cookie notice to your full privacy policy, where you go into more detail about what types of cookies you use and why.

5. Client Agreement or Service Terms

If you offer 1:1 services, coaching sessions, or programs, it’s smart to link to a client agreement or service terms page. This document outlines exactly what clients can expect when working with you: your process, what’s included, your cancellation policy, refund terms, and more.

Having this agreement publicly available (or at least sent to clients before booking) ensures you and your clients are on the same page. It helps avoid misunderstandings, sets professional boundaries, and gives you a reference point if things are ever unclear.

It doesn’t have to be overly complex, but it should reflect your unique policies. You can create one page that clients agree to when booking, or include these details in your onboarding documents. Either way, it supports a smooth, respectful client experience.

Many professionals also use this opportunity to include values-based language that reinforces how they hold space, communicate, and work ethically.

Conclusion

Legal pages may not be the most glamorous part of building your website, but they are some of the most important. With just a few clear, thoughtful documents, you can protect your business, serve your clients ethically, and move forward with greater peace of mind.

Taking time to add a privacy policy, terms & conditions, disclaimers, and other essentials is a small step that makes a big difference. It shows your clients that you care about doing things the right way—and that builds trust from the very first click.

If you’re not sure where to start, you don’t have to figure it all out alone. There are great legal template shops out there, or you can work with a professional to get everything dialed in. Start by downloading the “Website Legal Documents Checklist” so you can make sure to get everything you need from your legal professional.

And if you need help organizing these pages beautifully and professionally on your website—I’m here for that too. Let’s make sure your site is both soul-led and legally sound.