If your partner or the mother of your child dies within the first year after the child’s birth or adoption you are entitled to take up to 52 weeks of unpaid Bereaved Partner's Paternity Leave so that you can care for the child.

You are entitled to take a single period of this leave anytime from the date after the bereavement until 52 weeks after the date of the child’s birth or adoption.

If you choose to take this leave within eight weeks of the bereavement you should contact your line manager to advise the start and end dates of the leave you want to take.

If you choose to take this leave more than eight weeks after the bereavement you should give your line manager notice in writing of the proposed start and end dates of the leave. You should give your line manager at least one weeks’ notice of your intended leave.

When advising your manager of your intention to take this leave you need to tell them the following information:

• the bereavement date
• the leave start date
  
• the date of birth of the child you will care for, or the date of adoption
  
• the leave end date.