The MATB1 maternity certificate

Edited by Oliver Wakefield-Smith, Founder of Digital Signet. Last reviewed 23 June 2026.

Direct answer

When do I get the MATB1?

Your midwife or GP can issue the MATB1 from 20 weeks before your expected week of childbirth. You give the original to your employer with your written notice of leave, no later than 21 days after SMP is meant to start. If you lose it, the same clinician can issue a duplicate marked DUPLICATE.

What the MATB1 contains

Your name and address.
Your expected week of childbirth, signed by the clinician.
Date the certificate was issued.
Name and signature of the issuing midwife or GP.

When and how to give it to your employer

Give the original MATB1 to your employer with your written notice of when you want maternity leave to start. The statutory deadline is no later than 21 days after the date you want SMP to begin. In practice it is cleaner to hand the MATB1 over with your 28-day notice well before the qualifying week.

If you lose the MATB1

Ask the same midwife or GP for a duplicate. They will mark it DUPLICATE on the front. Your employer should accept it. If they refuse, request an SMP1 in writing.

Multiple employers

If you have more than one employer who both pay SMP, each one needs the original or a certified copy. Most employers will accept a clear copy stamped by your midwife.