Hiring a nanny is an important decision for any household, and putting the terms in writing gives both sides a shared understanding from the start. A nanny contract is a written agreement that records the essential conditions of the position, including daily responsibilities, work hours, compensation, benefits, time off, household expectations, and any standards of conduct required in the home. It serves as a helpful reference that helps the working relationship move forward with confidence.
This nanny contract template is designed for families or guardians who employ a nanny and for nannies who want clarity about their day-to-day role. It can be used for both short-term and long-term employment and can be tailored to the specific needs of the household.
The template includes defined sections where you can add all terms of the role, from daily duties and scheduling to compensation, leave options, and any household requirements. Once completed, it gives both parties one document that explains how the employment will work throughout the arrangement.
Before You Complete This Nanny Contract Template
Before you start editing the nanny contract template, take a moment to think through how the arrangement will work in everyday life. Decide whether the position is live-in or live-out, the usual weekly hours, and any times when you expect extra coverage such as school holidays, evenings, or weekends. It is also useful to decide how you want to handle travel with the family, overnight stays, and situations where a second adult is present in the home.
You may also want to review any local rules on household employment, such as minimum wage requirements, overtime, and payroll taxes. Some families speak with a tax professional or employment lawyer once, then keep the same standard terms for future hires. Once you have those pieces in mind, adjust the template once to reflect your family’s approach and save that version as your main nanny contract.
How To Use This Nanny Contract Template
This template includes clauses covering the essential terms of the contract. You can customize the template in Microsoft Word or Google Docs to add the information relevant to your arrangement and adjust the terms accordingly. Let us go through the template’s sections one by one to complete the contract.
Parties Involved
Begin by entering the names of the two parties to the arrangement, the employer and the nanny. Write the full names along with relevant contact details such as home address, phone number, and email address. These entries identify the individuals forming the employment relationship within the contract.
Employment Team
This section states the length of the nanny’s employment. Provide the start date, and if the position is scheduled to end on a certain date, note the end date. A probationary period, if applicable, can be specified to indicate the initial phase of employment during which performance and suitability for the role can be reviewed. These entries define the timeline under which the employment will take place.
Work Schedule
It specifies the nanny’s regular working pattern. List the days of the week the role covers and note the hours expected for each day. These details describe the routine timetable that will apply during the employment period.
Include both regular hours and any flexible expectations. For example, you can list standard weekday hours and then note how often evenings, weekends, or extra school-holiday hours might come up, along with how those extra hours are approved.
Duties and Responsibilities
This section describes the scope of work assigned to the nanny. The primary duty of the role is listed here, followed by any secondary and additional tasks that form part of the daily routine. These may involve direct childcare, support with meals and activities, or other responsibilities connected to the children’s day-to-day needs. This section defines the specific work expected under the position.
Salary and Compensation
This part of the contract is used to record how the nanny will be paid for their work. It is used to note the agreed hourly rate, the terms applied to additional hours, the schedule on which payment will be issued, and the method through which those payments will be made. Its purpose is to present the payment terms in a central place so the contract reflects how the role is valued and compensated.
Benefits
This section records any supplementary terms that accompany the nanny’s compensation. It may include provisions such as paid leave, health-related allowances, or other agreed benefits connected to the position. Entering this information here places these additional terms on the record as part of the contractual obligations.
Vacations and Leave
This defines the nanny’s entitlement to time away from work. It provides a place to specify the number of paid and unpaid vacation days granted for the role, along the sick leave allocated during the employment term. Its purpose is to set the leave provisions that govern the nanny’s time away from duties during the course of employment.
Termination
This section records the terms that apply when the role comes to an end. It includes the period of notice required from both sides before the arrangement concludes, along with the situations that warrant an immediate end to the contract, such as conduct that violates essential obligations. By completing this part, the contract specifies how notice is handled and the conditions under which the service can be terminated without delay.
Use this section to describe both planned endings and urgent situations. For planned endings, write the notice period and whether you intend to give a reference. For serious misconduct or safety concerns, explain the circumstances where employment can end immediately, such as neglect, violence, or repeated policy violations.
Confidentiality
Information the nanny obtains while performing their duties must be kept confidential and not shared outside the role. This includes details about the family’s routines, private matters, or any other information accessed within the household. The clause is intended to set a defined duty of privacy and prevent any unauthorized disclosure of household information.
Other Provisions
This part of the contract provides space for any additional terms that do not fall under the earlier sections but are still important to the arrangement. Families can use it to document special instructions, household policies, or any clause specific to the position that requires written acknowledgment.
Signatures
This section records the signatures of both the employer and the nanny, signifying that each party has reviewed the agreement and agrees to its terms. The signatures also serve as a formal acknowledgment of the commitments described in the contract and the date they begin.
Notary (If Applicable)
A notary public is an authorized official who verifies identities and witnesses the signing of legal documents, and this section is used only when their involvement is required. If the agreement is being notarized, the notary will record the state, county, and date of the acknowledgment, confirm the parties’ identities, and witness their signatures. The notary then completes the certification by signing, applying their seal, and noting the expiration of their commission. If notarization is not needed, this section can be left blank.
FAQs
Yes. Even when a nanny works only a few days a week or on specific afternoons, a written contract records the schedule, pay rate, duties, and house rules. This reduces misunderstandings about expectations, late cancellations, and payment for holidays or sick days.
The template can be used for both. For live-in roles, expand the sections on work schedule, duties, and other provisions to mention accommodation, access to common areas, guests, overnight expectations, and boundaries around off-duty time. For live-out roles, you can keep the focus on hours worked, pick-ups and drop-offs, and end-of-day handovers.
It is better to be specific. Instead of writing “general childcare,” list examples such as preparing children’s meals, school runs, homework supervision, bath and bedtime routines, and transporting children to activities. If you expect the nanny to do children’s laundry, tidy play areas, or prepare simple family meals, mention that directly so everyone shares the same picture of the job.
In many cases, a nanny who works regular hours in a family’s home is treated as a household employee rather than an independent contractor. The correct classification affects taxes, reporting duties, and benefits. Rules vary by country and state, so it is sensible to check local guidance or speak with a payroll or tax professional before finalizing the wording in the contract.
The contract is a good place to note how pay will be handled, including gross pay, any tax withholding, and benefits such as paid vacation, sick days, or health-related allowances if you provide them. You do not need to include every technical detail of payroll processing, but you should record the basic approach so there is a written record of what you and the nanny agreed.
If more than one adult is acting as the employer, it is often better for each of them to sign the contract. This shows that everyone with authority over the role has read and agreed to the terms. The nanny should also sign and date the document and keep a copy for their records.
Yes, once you finish editing the contract in Word or Google Docs, you can export it as a PDF and send it through an e-signature service that you already use. Check that electronic signatures are accepted for employment contracts in your region, then store the signed copy with your household records along with any later amendments.
