A clear contract protects you and your client. It sets expectations before anyone is in labor: what you'll do, what you won't, when you're on call, what it costs, and what happens if the baby comes before you can get there.
Below is a free doula service agreement you can copy or download, with an optional addendum for postpartum work. Under it, we explain each section, what to decide before you fill it in, and the mistakes that cause the most trouble later.
The template
Replace everything in [brackets] and delete any section that doesn't apply to your practice.
DOULA SERVICE AGREEMENT
Template from cradledapp.com/guides/doula-contract-template
This template is a starting point, not legal advice. Laws about contracts, deposits, refunds, and privacy vary by state, province, and country. Have it reviewed by a lawyer where you practice before you use it with clients.
Replace everything in [BRACKETS]. Delete any section that doesn't apply.
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1. PARTIES
This agreement is between:
Doula: [Your name], [Business name], [Email], [Phone] ("the Doula")
Client: [Client name], [Email], [Phone] ("the Client")
Partner or support person (optional): [Name]
Estimated due date: [Date]
Planned place of birth: [Hospital / birth center / home]
2. SERVICES INCLUDED
The Doula will provide the following non-medical support:
a) Prenatal visits: [Number] visits of about [Length] each, at [Location or "virtual or in person"], covering birth preferences, comfort measures, and what to expect.
b) Phone, text, and message support from signing until the end of services, during [Hours, e.g. 9am-6pm, Monday to Friday], with replies within [Timeframe].
c) On-call period: from [e.g. 38 weeks] until the birth. During this period the Doula will be available 24 hours a day for labor support and will stay within [Distance or travel time] of the planned place of birth.
d) Labor and birth support: continuous in-person support from the time the Doula joins the Client in active labor until about [e.g. 2] hours after the birth.
e) Postpartum visits: [Number] visits of about [Length] each, within [e.g. 2 weeks] of the birth.
f) [Anything else included, e.g. resource library, birth story write-up, lending library, TENS unit rental]
3. SCOPE OF PRACTICE
The Doula provides emotional, physical, and informational support. The Doula is not a medical professional and will not:
- perform clinical or medical tasks, such as vaginal exams, fetal heart monitoring, blood pressure checks, or medical diagnosis;
- make decisions for the Client or speak for the Client to medical staff;
- give medical advice or replace the care of the Client's doctor, midwife, or other care provider.
The Client is responsible for their own medical care and decisions, and will keep their care provider informed. The Doula supports the Client's informed choices and can help the Client find information and form questions for their care provider.
4. FEES AND PAYMENT
Total fee: [Amount and currency]
a) Deposit: [Amount], due when this agreement is signed. The deposit reserves the Doula's time around the due date and is [non-refundable / refundable only as described in section 7].
b) Balance: [Amount], due [in full by e.g. 36 weeks / in installments of Amount on Dates].
c) Accepted payment methods: [e.g. card, e-transfer, bank transfer, cash].
d) Late payment: if the balance is not paid by [Date or week], the Doula may [pause on-call availability until it is paid / end this agreement under section 8].
e) Additional fees, if any: [e.g. travel beyond X km at $Y per km, parking, labor support beyond Z hours at $W per hour].
5. ON-CALL AND BACKUP DOULA
a) The Client will contact the Doula by [phone call, not text] when labor begins, when waters break, when heading to the place of birth, or if they want the Doula to join them.
b) If the Doula is ill, at another birth, or has an emergency, a backup doula will attend in their place. Backup doula: [Name, or "to be introduced before the on-call period"]. The Client will have the chance to [meet / speak with] the backup doula before the on-call period begins.
c) Planned time away during the on-call period: [Dates, or "none"].
6. IF THINGS DON'T GO AS PLANNED
a) Very fast labor: if the Doula was contacted in time but the baby arrived before the Doula could get there, the Client will still receive the postpartum visits, and [no refund / a partial refund of Amount] applies.
b) The Client did not contact the Doula during labor: the full fee applies.
c) The Doula, or the backup doula, did not attend after being contacted in time: the Client will receive a refund of [Amount or percentage], and [postpartum visits still apply].
d) Cesarean birth: if the Client has a planned or unplanned cesarean, the Doula will provide support [before and after surgery, and in the operating room where the hospital allows it]. The fee [is unchanged].
e) Birth before the on-call period: the Doula will make every effort to attend. If they cannot, [describe the refund or credit].
f) Place-of-birth policies: some hospitals limit the number of support people or restrict doulas. The Doula will follow those policies, and they do not change the fee.
7. CANCELLATION BY THE CLIENT
The Client may end this agreement at any time by writing to the Doula.
- Before [e.g. 30 weeks]: [refund of payments made, minus the deposit].
- After [e.g. 30 weeks]: [no refund / refund of Amount].
- Pregnancy loss: in the case of a pregnancy loss, [describe what is refunded or credited, and any support offered].
8. CANCELLATION BY THE DOULA
The Doula may end this agreement if [the balance is unpaid by the agreed date / the Client's requests fall outside the Doula's scope of practice / the Doula can no longer safely provide services]. If the Doula ends the agreement for a reason that is not the Client's responsibility, the Doula will refund [payments for services not yet provided] and, where possible, help the Client find another doula.
9. COMMUNICATION AND BOUNDARIES
Outside the on-call period, the Doula will reply to messages during the hours in section 2(b). For urgent medical concerns at any time, the Client will contact their doctor, midwife, or emergency services first.
10. CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY
The Doula will keep the Client's personal information private and will not share it without the Client's consent, except where the law requires it (for example, if someone is at risk of serious harm). The Doula will store records securely and keep them for [Timeframe].
11. PHOTOS AND SOCIAL MEDIA
The Doula will not take photos or video, or share any details of the birth online, without the Client's written consent.
The Client [does / does not] consent to the Doula taking photos during labor and birth.
The Client [does / does not] consent to the Doula sharing a testimonial or photos online, [with or without the Client's name].
12. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
By signing, the Client confirms that they have read this agreement, had the chance to ask questions, and understand that the Doula provides non-medical support only.
This agreement is governed by the laws of [State / Province, Country].
SIGNATURES
Client: ______________________________ Date: ____________
[Client name]
Partner or support person (optional): ______________________ Date: ________
[Name]
Doula: ______________________________ Date: ____________
[Your name], [Business name]
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POSTPARTUM DOULA ADDENDUM (optional, for postpartum services)
a) Package: [Number] hours of postpartum support, to be used within [Timeframe] of the birth, in shifts of at least [Minimum hours].
b) Rate for additional hours: [Amount] per hour. Overnight shifts ([e.g. 10pm-6am]): [Amount] per shift.
c) Scheduling: shifts are booked [e.g. one week ahead]. Cancellations with less than [e.g. 24 hours'] notice are charged [in full / at 50%].
d) Services include: [e.g. newborn care support, feeding support, light household tasks related to the baby, sibling care, emotional support, referrals]. Services do not include [e.g. heavy cleaning, care of other adults, medical care].
e) Unused hours: [expire after Timeframe / are not refundable].
What to include in a doula contract, section by section
1. Parties
Name both of you, plus the client's partner or main support person if they'll be part of the birth. Include the estimated due date and planned place of birth. Your on-call period and travel limits are based on both.
2. Services included
This is the section clients read most closely, so be specific. "Prenatal support" means different things to different people. "Two prenatal visits of about 90 minutes" doesn't.
Decide before you write it:
- How many prenatal and postpartum visits, how long each one is, and where they happen.
- When you reply to messages outside the on-call period, and how quickly.
- When your on-call period starts. Many birth doulas start at 37 or 38 weeks. Earlier means more nights with your phone on loud.
- When labor support starts and ends. For example, from active labor until about two hours after the birth.
3. Scope of practice
This is the section that protects you most. Doulas give emotional, physical, and informational support. They don't perform clinical tasks, make medical decisions, or speak for the client to their care team. Writing this down makes the boundary clear to the client and their family, and to anyone who later questions what your role was.
Keep the tone supportive. You aren't stepping back from the client. You're making sure the right person handles each part of their care.
4. Fees and payment
Spell out the total, the deposit, when the balance is due, and how clients can pay. The decisions that matter most:
- Is the deposit refundable? Many doulas make it non-refundable because it reserves time they'll turn other clients away for. Say so plainly, and check whether that's allowed where you practice.
- When the balance is due. Asking for full payment by 36 weeks means you're never chasing money from a family with a newborn.
- Payment plans. Many families spread a birth package over several months. If you offer installments, list the amounts and dates. See how to set up doula payment plans for example schedules.
- Extras. Travel beyond a set distance, parking, or labor support beyond a set number of hours.
5. On-call and backup doula
Say how the client should reach you when labor starts. A phone call is safer than a text that might sit unread. Name your backup doula, or promise to introduce one before the on-call period. List any dates you'll be away.
6. If things don't go as planned
Most doula contract disputes come from situations nobody wrote down. Decide in advance what happens if:
- labor is so fast the baby arrives before you do, even though they called in time;
- the client never calls you during labor;
- you or your backup can't attend after being called;
- the birth becomes a cesarean;
- the baby comes before your on-call period starts;
- the hospital limits support people.
There's no single right answer for each one. What matters is that you both agreed to it before the birth.
7 and 8. Cancellation
Cover both directions. Clients may move, change their plans, or experience a loss. You may need to end an agreement if payments stop or a request falls outside your scope. A refund schedule tied to pregnancy weeks keeps it fair and predictable. Handle pregnancy loss with care: many doulas offer a full or partial refund, or a credit toward bereavement support.
9. Communication and boundaries
Your on-call period is 24/7. The rest of the time shouldn't be. Set your hours, and say that urgent medical concerns go to their doctor, midwife, or emergency services first.
10 and 11. Confidentiality, photos, and social media
Promise privacy, and note the legal exceptions, such as a duty to report when someone is at risk of serious harm. Get photo and social media consent in writing, as a clear yes or no. Never assume it.
12. Acknowledgement and signatures
The client confirms they've read the agreement, had a chance to ask questions, and understand your role is non-medical. Add a line for the partner's signature if they're part of the agreement, and name the jurisdiction whose laws apply.
Birth doula vs. postpartum doula contracts
Postpartum work is usually hourly or packaged, not a single on-call period. The template includes an optional postpartum addendum that covers:
- The package: total hours, the window to use them in, and the minimum shift length.
- Rates for extra hours and overnight shifts.
- Scheduling and late cancellations.
- What's included, such as newborn care, feeding support, and light baby-related housework, and what isn't, such as heavy cleaning or medical care.
- What happens to unused hours.
If you only offer postpartum support, you can lead with the addendum and cut the birth-specific sections (on-call, labor support, and fast-birth terms).
Common mistakes
- Vague services. "Unlimited support" invites 2am texts about car seats. Put a number on visits and set hours for messages.
- No answer for a missed birth. Decide what happens before it happens, for fast labors and for times you can't attend.
- Collecting the balance after the birth. Families are exhausted and money gets forgotten. Set the due date before your on-call period.
- A deposit with no terms. Say what the deposit covers and whether it's refundable.
- Skipping the partner. If the partner is part of the support plan, let them sign too, so everyone has read the same expectations.
- Never revisiting it. Update your template when your prices, services, or local rules change. Note the version date somewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Is a doula contract legally binding?
A signed agreement is usually a binding contract, but what's enforceable, especially around deposits and refunds, depends on where you practice. That's why a local review matters.
Should I have a lawyer review my doula contract?
Yes, at least once. A one-time review of your template is a small cost compared with a dispute. Some doula training programs and professional associations also offer contract guidance to members.
Can my client sign the contract online?
Yes. In most places e-signatures are generally treated like handwritten ones for this kind of agreement. Check your local rules, and keep a signed copy with the date.
What's the difference between a deposit and a retainer?
People use the words loosely. What matters is what your contract says the payment covers and whether it can be refunded. Be explicit either way.
Send it for e-signature with Cradled
Once your agreement is ready, Cradled turns it into a reusable template you can send in a couple of taps:
- Start from a starter contract or your own. Cradled includes starter birth and postpartum doula agreements you can copy into your templates and edit, or you can paste in your own. Fields like the client's name, your name, the total fee, and the date fill in automatically.
- Your client signs on any device, from an emailed link with no account needed, or right in the Cradled app if she uses it. Her partner can co-sign.
- Collect the deposit with a payment link, and set up a payment plan for the balance that charges her saved card on schedule. (Online card payments currently need a Canadian Stripe account. US support is in progress. E-transfer, cash, and cheque payments can be tracked anywhere.)
- Her client record moves forward on its own: a signed contract moves her from Inquiry to Prenatal.
Once the contract is signed, the next step is getting to know your client: see our free doula intake form template.
Cradled is free for 1 active client at a time, with every feature included.