Documents for Business

In excess of 1,000 customisable documents covering every conceivable business issue.

Introduction to this document

Letter requesting evidence for SPL

Once an employee has submitted a notice of entitlement for shared parental leave (SPL), you can ask them to provide certain supplementary documentation and information as set out in our letter requesting evidence for shared parental leave. 

Birth cases

Within 14 days, beginning with the date on which the employee’s notice of entitlement was given, you are entitled to ask them to provide:

  • a copy of the child’s birth certificate - or, if this has not yet been issued, a signed declaration from them stating the child’s date and place of birth and that a birth certificate has not yet been issued; and
  • the name and address of their partner’s or the other parent’s employer - or, if they are self-employed or not working at the time, a declaration that they have no employer.

The employee then has 14 days beginning with the date of your request in which to provide the requested documentation and information. If, however, your request is made before the date of birth, the employee must provide the copy of the child’s birth certificate within 14 days from the date of birth or, if this has not been issued at that point, a signed declaration from them stating the child’s date and place of birth and that a birth certificate has not yet been issued.

adoption cases

In the case of adoption, the evidence that you can request is:

  • one or more documents issued by the adoption agency showing: the name and address of the adoption agency, the date that the adopter was notified of having been matched with the child, and the date on which the adoption agency expects to place the child for adoption; and
  • the name and address of the other adopter’s employer - or, if they are self-employed or not working at the time, a declaration that they have no employer.

Again, the employee has 14 days to comply.

Voluntary request

You don’t legally have to request this documentation and information if you don’t want to, but it can provide important evidence to substantiate the employee’s claim to entitlement to SPL. You can use our Letter Requesting Evidence for SPL to make your request.