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. ------------------------------ 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] ------------------------------ 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].