• Leave for the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child must conclude leave within 12 months from the date of the birth, adoption, or placement.

When an employee is out on Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave for the birth of a child, the adoption of a child, or the foster placement of a child, the employee must conclude leave within 12 months from the date of the birth, adoption, or placement. This applies no matter what the 12-month leave year period is. If, for example, an employer uses the calendar year method to calculate the 12-month leave year period, and an employee gives birth on April 12, the employee would need to complete the leave for bonding by the following April 12.