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Personal Reference Form
Free personal reference form template for someone providing a character reference for an individual, outside of an employment context.
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This free personal reference form covers Your Information, Assessment, Overall Recommendation, Additional Comments with 9 clearly marked [placeholder] fields to fill in — built for founders, freelancers, and small business owners formalizing a business decision or agreement without paying a lawyer to draft it from scratch. Copy it into your own word processor, fill in the placeholders, and review it — or adapt it — before use. It's part of docstoc's free document template library, alongside business, legal, real estate, finance, and HR templates. Every template here is free to copy with no signup required, and each one carries a plain disclaimer: this is a starting point for informational purposes, not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional in your jurisdiction.
Personal Reference Form
Reference for: [Applicant Name] · Date: [Date]
Your Information
Name: [Name] · Relationship to applicant: [Relationship] · Years known: [Number] Contact: [Phone/Email]
Assessment
How would you describe the applicant's character? [Response]
How would you describe their reliability and trustworthiness? [Response]
Are you aware of anything that would make you hesitant to recommend this person? [Yes/No, explain if yes]
Overall Recommendation
[ ] Highly recommend [ ] Recommend [ ] Recommend with reservations [ ] Do not recommend
Additional Comments
[Open-ended space]
Reference signature: ______________________ Date: ____________
*A personal reference (used for things like tenant screening or volunteer roles) is different from an employment reference — it speaks to character rather than job performance, so ask questions suited to that purpose.*
Edit directly in the box above. Download PDF anytime — the docstoc.io footer is always included and cannot be removed.
What's included
- Edit online — click the document, fill in placeholders, download a PDF
- 4 standard sections: Your Information, Assessment, Overall Recommendation, Additional Comments
- 9 clearly marked [placeholder] fields for quick personalizing
- Free to use — no account or signup required
- Fully editable — adjust any clause to match your actual situation
- Includes a signature block, ready to print or sign digitally
- Fixed docstoc.io footer on every PDF (not removable)
Who this template is for
Freelancers & solo founders
Handling routine business paperwork without commissioning custom legal drafting for every document.
Small businesses
Standardizing recurring documents — leases, agreements, notices — across a growing operation.
Anyone reviewing before signing
Using a clear starting structure to understand what a document should cover, even if a lawyer finalizes it.
Early-stage businesses
Getting the basics documented before things get more complex.
FAQ
Is this personal reference form template really free?
Yes. Like every template in docstoc's library, this personal reference form is free to use, with no account or signup needed to view, edit, or download it.
What does this personal reference form cover?
This business template includes Your Information, Assessment, Overall Recommendation, Additional Comments. Fill in the [bracketed] placeholders, edit any clause online, then download a PDF — the docstoc.io footer stays on every export.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is a general-purpose starting structure, not advice for your specific situation. Business agreements can hinge on details — state of formation, industry-specific regulation, how a dispute would actually play out — that a template can't account for. Have a business attorney review anything that involves real money or real risk before you rely on it.
Can I edit the wording?
Yes — edit directly on the page, adjust any section or clause, and re-fill the 9 placeholder fields to match your situation before downloading a PDF. It's a starting structure, not a rigid script.
Where can I find more free templates like this?
Browse more free business and related document templates in the docstoc library at /document-templates/.
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Why use this instead of a generic template
Security
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Legality
Templates are drafted for general use, not a substitute for legal advice — check the note on each page for specifics.
Privacy
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Speed
Copy the subject and body directly — no form to fill in, no export step, no waiting on a download link.
Mobile-friendly
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