To start shared parental leave (SPL), you (as the mother of the child) must first give up your entitlement to any maternity leave or pay, or maternity allowance. To do this, the you must either return to work or give your employer a written notice to say that you'll return.
The notice must be given at the same time that you give notice to take shared parental leave or statutory shared parental pay (SSPP).
The type of notice will differ depending on whether you are entitled to receive maternity leave or pay, or maternity allowance.
If you are entitled to maternity leave
The notice must state the date that your maternity leave will end. This must be on a date that's at least:
The notice must state the date that your statutory maternity pay will end. This must be on the last day of a week that's at least:
If the mother is entitled to maternity allowance
The notice must be given to the Department for Work and Pensions, stating the date that your maternity allowance will end. This must be on a date that's:
The mother's employer might ask for a copy of the notice.
You can cancel by giving a written notice to your employer, but only if one of the following applies:
You can also cancel SPL before the date given in the notice to end maternity leave or pay, or maternity allowance, as long as you give your employer (or for maternity allowance, the Department for Work and Pensions) your notice to cancel within 6 weeks of the child's birth. Note that this cancellation right doesn't apply to adoptions.
The process to end maternity leave and pay also applies to adoption leave and pay.
In this article, any references to the following can be substituted in this way: