Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave - April 2026

Notice to take bereaved partner's paternity leave

The amount of notice that you need to give to take bereaved partner's paternity leave will depend on when you plan to start your leave. This is set out below.

If you plan to start your leave within the first eight weeks after the bereavement

Step 1 - Informal notice

You may start your leave immediately, provided that you contact your line manager by telephone, email, voicemail or text message before you are due to start work on your first day of absence.

When you make contact, you will be asked to confirm:

•    the date of the bereavement;
•    when you would like your leave to start; and
•    the child's date of birth, placement for adoption, or entry into Great Britain.

You do not need to provide this information in writing at this time as we understand that this will be a very difficult time.

Step 2 - Written notification 

At a later stage, within eight weeks of the bereavement date, and at least one week before you plan to return to work, you will need to confirm the date that you intend to return to work to your line manager.

If you plan to return to work more than eight weeks after the bereavement date, you will also need to confirm in writing to your line manager:

•    the child's date of birth, placement for adoption, or entry into Great Britain;
•    that the purpose of the leave is to care for the child; and
•    that you meet the relationship conditions for bereaved partner's paternity leave.

Once your Bereaved Parental Paternity Leave has been agreed with your line manager you should apply for the leave through My View via My Forms.