Life happens — a medical procedure, a new baby, a family member who needs you, a loss, military duty — and you need to formally ask your employer for time away, in writing, the right way. A Leave of Absence Request Letter is the professional way to put that request on the record, and PaperKit drafts a clear, respectful one in seconds. Pick your TYPE of leave — MEDICAL, PARENTAL (maternity / paternity), FAMILY CARE, PERSONAL, BEREAVEMENT, or MILITARY — and it reshapes the whole letter: the subtitle, the framing, the tone (gentle for medical and bereavement, upbeat and committed for parental and military), the optional stated-reason sentence, and the closing. Then choose the DURATION — FIXED start and return dates, OPEN-ENDED (return to be confirmed), INTERMITTENT / as-needed, or a REDUCED / modified schedule — and it rewrites the exact start-and-return wording for you. Need to spell things out? Flip on the SUPPORTING DETAILS list and add accommodation requests, coverage notes, or documentation you'll provide as clean bullet points. It's a letter TO your employer, so you (the employee) e-sign it online and send the polished PDF — there's no second signature. Remember: this is a REQUEST, not an approval — FMLA / ADA eligibility and state leave laws vary, so confirm approval in writing with HR. (This is a template, not legal advice.)
The big lever — it reshapes the whole letter: the framing, the tone, and the closing. (You never have to over-share — the copy stays professional and respectful either way.)
Medical — gentle and professional. Frames the request around recovery and following your provider's guidance; you can offer documentation.
Overrides the exact sentence that tells your employer when your leave begins and (if known) when you expect to return.
Fixed dates — states a start date and an expected return date (fill both in below).
Your name appears on the letterhead and you e-sign the hosted letter. This is a letter TO your employer, so there's no second signature.
Who the letter is addressed to — usually your manager or HR. If you leave the name blank it's addressed to “[Company] Management.”
Off = a clean narrative letter. On = PaperKit adds a details block — documentation you'll provide, how to cover your work, or accommodations you're requesting. (One line per item, in your own words — not numbers.)
Turn on what applies. A thank-you note, an offer to prepare for coverage, and a closing are on by default.
A real leave of absence request letter. The type reshapes the framing & closing; the duration rewrites the start/return wording; the details list appears only if you turn it on. Publish to get a hosted link you can e-sign online.
$9/mo — remove the DRAFT watermark + “Made with PaperKit” badge, unlimited clean-PDF letters, and Pro across every tool.
A leave of absence request letter is a template for convenience, not legal advice. This letter is a REQUEST, not an approval — leave eligibility and your rights and obligations (including under the FMLA, the ADA, and state family-leave laws) vary by employer size, tenure, jurisdiction, and company policy. Check your employment agreement and your employer's leave policy, and get approval in writing before relying on any dates or terms. PaperKit is not a law firm and records electronic signature via the signer's typed name; keep a dated copy of this letter for your records.