Bereavement Leave Laws by State (2026)

Which states require time off to grieve and handle a death, and whether that time is paid. The label shows what each state requires.

Every state

Bereavement leave, state by state

Only six states mandate it. The chip shows whether leave is required, available through sick leave, or not required. Tap any state for the details.

Federal No law Alabama No law Alaska No law Arizona No law Arkansas No law California Required Colorado Via sick leave Connecticut No law Delaware No law District of Columbia No law Florida No law Georgia No law Guam Check local Hawaii No law Idaho No law Illinois Required Indiana No law Iowa No law Kansas No law Kentucky No law Louisiana No law Maine No law Maryland Required Massachusetts No law Michigan No law Minnesota Via sick leave Mississippi No law Missouri No law Montana No law Nebraska No law Nevada No law New Hampshire No law New Jersey No law New Mexico No law New York No law North Carolina No law North Dakota No law Northern Mariana Islands Check local Ohio No law Oklahoma No law Oregon Required Pennsylvania No law Puerto Rico Check local Rhode Island No law South Carolina No law South Dakota No law Tennessee No law Texas No law Utah No law Vermont Required Virgin Islands Check local Virginia No law Washington Required West Virginia No law Wisconsin No law Wyoming No law

The basics

How bereavement leave works

There is no federal right to bereavement leave, and most states leave it to the employer. Six states, California, Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, require it, and the terms vary widely: California gives up to five days, Oregon and Vermont up to two weeks, and Washington pays for it through its family-leave program.

In the other states, bereavement leave is voluntary but very common, usually three to five days for an immediate family member. A couple of states, like Colorado and Minnesota, let you use accrued paid sick leave for a death in the family even without a dedicated law. This is general information, not legal advice.

Common questions

Bereavement leave FAQ

Which states require bereavement leave?

As of 2026, six states require bereavement leave: California, Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Colorado and Minnesota let you use accrued sick leave for bereavement instead.

Is there a federal bereavement leave law?

No. No federal law requires bereavement or funeral leave. The FMLA can apply only if the loss leads to a serious health condition needing treatment, not simply to grieve.

How much bereavement leave is typical?

Where required, states allow up to 5 days (California) to 2 weeks (Oregon, Vermont). Voluntary employer policies commonly give 3 to 5 days for an immediate family member.

David Scott

David Scott compiles and verifies minimum wage rates, tipped wages, and overtime rules from official state and federal labor department sources, and re-checks every page when rates change. See how the data is sourced.