What must be true for a waiver to be considered valid?

For a waiver to be considered valid, it must be voluntary. A waiver is a relinquishment of a known right, which means that the individual must willingly and intentionally give up that right without any form of coercion, duress, or undue influence. This principle ensures that individuals are making informed decisions and are acting according to their free will.

While written documentation can support the validity of a waiver, a waiver created in writing does not automatically guarantee that it is valid if it was not made voluntarily. Coercion, as suggested in another choice, directly undermines the fundamental concept of a waiver because if a person is forced or pressured into signing, their consent is not genuine, which would render the waiver invalid. Thus, the essence of a valid waiver relies on the willingness and autonomy of the individual involved.