(1) When paid family or medical leave is taken for the postnatal period, to bond with the employee's child after birth, or for the death of a child as outlined in subsection (6) of this section, the employee must provide:

(a) A copy of the child's birth certificate;

(b) Certification of birth from a health care provider; or

(c) Documentation sufficient to verify or substantiate the child's birth or death.

(2) When paid family leave is taken to bond with the employee's child after the child's placement as defined in WAC 192-500-195, the employee must provide a copy of a court order verifying placement.

If a court order is not available, the department may accept alternate documentation sufficient to verify the placement.

(3) Additional documentation may be requested to substantiate the qualifying event.

(4) Only the employee giving birth is eligible for medical leave taken for the postnatal period related to recovery from childbirth.

(5)(a) Leave taken by the employee giving birth for the postnatal period is subject to maximum family or medical leave duration and will be medical leave except when:

(i) Medical leave is fully or partially exhausted prior to the birth of the child; or

(ii) An employee chooses to use family leave, if available, for the postnatal period.

(b) An employee who gives birth and is not or will not be eligible for family leave to bond with a child may only use medical leave for the postnatal period.

(6) Subject to the maximum and minimum weekly benefits, duration, and other conditions and limitations established in Title 50A RCW, an employee is eligible for up to seven calendar days of family leave in the event of the death of a child they would have been eligible to bond with or were bonding with. This leave is available for up to seven calendar days beginning the day after the date of the child's death or delivery of the deceased child.