Death doula service agreement template
A plain-language letter of agreement for independent end-of-life doulas.
A written agreement protects the family and protects you. It names what you will do, what you will not do, and what happens when plans change — which, at the end of life, they always do.
This outline follows the order a family needs to understand your work: who is involved, what you offer, where your role ends, what it costs, and how either side can step away.
This template is not legal advice. Laws on contracts, cancellations, and record-keeping vary by state. Have an attorney licensed where you practice review your final agreement.
The template
1. Parties
- Doula's name, business name, and contact details
- Client's name, and the person signing if different (representative, proxy, family member)
- Date the agreement takes effect
2. Scope of services
List what is included so nothing is assumed.
- Planning and education (advance care planning conversations, legacy work, vigil planning)
- Visits: expected frequency and typical length
- Vigil support: whether offered, coverage hours, and backup arrangements
- After-death support and bereavement follow-up, and for how long
- Phone, text, and email availability and expected response times
3. Non-clinical boundaries
Make clear where your role ends.
- The doula does not provide medical care, give medication, or offer medical, legal, or financial advice
- The doula does not replace hospice, nursing, or other licensed professionals
- The doula will encourage contact with the care team for clinical concerns
- Any personal limits (lifting, transport, overnight stays)
4. Fees and payment
- Package, hourly, or sliding-scale rate, and what each covers
- Deposit or retainer amount, and whether it is refundable
- Mileage or travel charges, if any
- Invoicing rhythm, due dates, and accepted payment methods
5. Changes, cancellation, and ending the agreement
- How either party can end the agreement, and the notice required
- What happens to unused package time or deposits if the client dies or enters a facility
- Rescheduling and missed-visit policy
- What happens if the doula becomes unavailable (backup doula, referral)
6. Confidentiality and records
- What information the doula keeps, how it is stored, and for how long
- Who the doula may share updates with (authorized contacts)
- Exceptions: safety concerns and legally required reporting
- Consent to photographs, recordings, or legacy materials
7. Signatures
- Client or representative signature, printed name, and date
- Doula signature, printed name, and date
- Consent to sign electronically, if signing online
Writing an agreement families will actually read
- Use their words, not legal ones. Short sentences read better at a kitchen table than clauses do.
- State the non-clinical boundary twice. Once in scope, once in limits. It is the most common source of misunderstanding.
- Plan for the vigil. Say how on-call coverage works and what happens if you are unavailable.
- Review it out loud. Walk through it with the client and decision-maker before anyone signs.
Send and sign this agreement online
Liminal Desk includes an editable letter of agreement with guided sections. Your business details fill in automatically, clients sign from a secure link, and you get a certificate of completion with an audit trail. The free plan supports one active client.