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Notice of parental bereavement leave, including after a miscarriage (Northern Ireland)
Northern Ireland · in English · for employees
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Made for use in Northern Ireland
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For a bereaved parent in Northern Ireland — after the death of a child, a stillbirth or, since 6 April 2026, a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, for the mother and her partner: a short notice telling your employer you will take parental bereavement leave, with the date of the loss, how you will take the two weeks (one week, two together or two separate weeks) and when the leave starts, and asking about the pay. No medical evidence is needed. The Labour Relations Agency's guide is free. Sold blank, to complete by hand.
- Made for use in Northern Ireland
- Last updated October 29, 2026
- Document in English
Where a UK document reproduces the words of legislation or of a government publication — UK, Scottish or Northern Irish — it contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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When to use this document
- You have had a miscarriage in Northern Ireland and need time off before going back to work.
- Your partner has lost the baby and you want to tell your employer you need leave.
- Your child has died and you want a short letter to work without having to explain more.
- You want to tell your employer you are taking parental bereavement leave.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Employee
- Employee's address
- Town or city
- Employee's postcode
- Date
- Person at your employer you are writing to, as you would greet them (e.g. Priya Patel)
- Employer
- Employer's postal address (street and number, postcode and town on separate lines)
- What the leave follows
- Date of the death or pregnancy loss
- How you will take the leave
- First day of the leave
- Date the second week starts (only for two separate weeks)
Common questions
- Who can take parental bereavement leave in Northern Ireland, including after a miscarriage?
- A bereaved parent — including the partner — after the death of a child under 18 or a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy and, since 6 April 2026, after the loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks, the first such right in the UK. The leave is two weeks. You declare that you are entitled; no medical evidence is required. The leave is a right from your first day in the job, and the Labour Relations Agency's free guide on parental bereavement leave and pay explains the rest.
- How and when can parental bereavement leave be taken in Northern Ireland?
- As one week, two weeks together or two separate weeks, at any time within the period the regulations allow after the loss — 56 weeks after the death of a child. The notice can be short in the first weeks after the loss and needs more time later; the Labour Relations Agency's guide sets out the notice and how to change or cancel the dates. Your employer cannot refuse the leave, and you are protected from being treated worse for taking it.
- Is parental bereavement leave in Northern Ireland paid?
- Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay is £194.32 a week, or 90% of average weekly earnings if that is lower, from 6 April 2026. Since that date Northern Ireland asks for no minimum length of service for the pay, but it still depends on your earnings; your employer pays it and may pay more under your contract. The notice asks your employer whether a written declaration is needed for the pay. The Labour Relations Agency and nidirect explain free who qualifies; if you do not, the leave is still yours, unpaid unless your contract pays it.
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
- Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked
DocMuse sells documents, not legal advice. Acceptance always depends on the recipient's rules and your local law.
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