All tools · FMLA Eligibility & Request Letter
How to Write an FMLA Leave Request Letter
Use the free tool — FMLA Eligibility & Request Letter
What FMLA Gives You
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives eligible workers 12 weeks of job-protected leave. The leave is unpaid. It applies only if you meet three tests.
The Three Eligibility Tests
All three must be true:
- You have worked for your employer for 12 months.
- You have worked 1,250 hours in the last 12 months.
- Your employer has 50 or more employees within 75 miles.
Hours are counted from your employer's own records. If you are not sure of your hours, ask for them.
What Qualifies for Leave
FMLA leave can cover:
- The birth of a child.
- Adoption.
- A serious health condition of you, your parent, your child, or your spouse.
- Military family leave.
Leave can also be taken intermittently in some cases.
Deadlines for Notice and Certification
The Family and Medical Leave Act (29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) and 29 CFR Part 825 set the timelines. Once your written request letter starts the process, your employer has 5 days to respond. You should give 30 days' notice when the need for leave is foreseeable, or notice as soon as practicable when it is not.
What Florida Adds
Florida has no state family or medical leave law for private employers. FMLA is the only leave law most Florida workers have. Some employers offer more than FMLA requires through their own policy — check your employee handbook.
Writing the Request Letter
A written FMLA request letter should:
- Give 30 days' notice, or notice as soon as practicable.
- State the reason for the leave.
- State the dates you expect to be out.
- Ask for the eligibility notice and the certification form.
This is not legal advice.
Important Limits
This tool is not legal advice. It does not file your request for you. Your employer's written eligibility notice is the final word on whether you qualify. The tool is not affiliated with any employer or government agency.
If Your Leave Is Denied
This kind of tool cannot handle a denial or a retaliation claim. It only computes eligibility and drafts a request letter. For a denial or retaliation, call the U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243. The call is free. This is not legal advice.
What to Do Next
Answer the questions in the free tool: your start date, your hours, your company's size, the reason for leave, and the dates. The tool reads your own numbers and computes the three tests, shows the notice and certification deadlines, and drafts the written request letter for you. It is available in English and Spanish. It cannot see your payroll records — hours are counted by your employer's records, so ask for them.
FMLA Eligibility & Request Letter is an informational tool based on the Family and Medical Leave Act (29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) and 29 CFR Part 825 as of 2025–26. It is not legal advice and does not file requests. Eligibility depends on employer records; the employer's written eligibility notice controls. Florida has no state family/medical leave statute for private employers. It is not affiliated with any employer or agency.