Paternity leave for adoption/surrogacy
2 tasks in suggested order
1. Claim Paternity Leave/Pay for adoption or surrogacy under Great Britain rules
If applicable: If your employment is governed by England, Scotland or Wales paternity rules.
In England, Scotland and Wales, Paternity Leave is a day-one employee right if the other eligibility/notice conditions are met; Statutory Paternity Pay still has its own earnings and 26-week service tests. Leave can be up to 2 weeks and, under the current rules, may be taken together or as separate one-week blocks and must end within 52 weeks.
For a UK adoption, normally notify within 7 days of being matched; a second separate week needs at least 28 days’ notice. For surrogacy, tell the employer at least 15 weeks before the due date and give the required start-date notice.
Your employer using the current GOV.UK paternity claim form or employer form.
Matching/placement information or due date, intended leave dates, eligibility details and surrogacy parental-order declaration where applicable.
Paternity Leave and Statutory Paternity Pay have different eligibility tests. These current GB rules do not apply unchanged in Northern Ireland.
Official source: GOV.UK
2. Claim Paternity Leave/Pay for adoption or surrogacy under Northern Ireland rules
If applicable: If your employment is governed by Northern Ireland law.
Northern Ireland paternity rules remain different. Paternity Leave normally requires at least 26 weeks’ service by the qualifying point, is one or two consecutive weeks, and must normally finish within 56 days of the birth/placement timing used by the NI rules.
For adoption, normally notify the employer within 7 days of being told you are matched. For a birth/surrogacy route, give the NI-required notice (normally at least 15 weeks before the due week) and any start-date change notice.
Your employer using the Northern Ireland statutory forms/rules on nidirect.
Matching/placement or due-date information, service/employment details, planned leave and any surrogacy parental-order information required.
Do not use the Great Britain day-one/52-week paternity-leave rule for Northern Ireland. Check the current NI eligibility and notice rules.
Official source: nidirect
