HR & Employment
Free Nanny Agreement Template (PDF)
A nanny agreement is the written agreement between a family and the nanny they employ. It covers the children and duties, schedule, pay and overtime, paid time off, expenses and driving, house rules, privacy, and how either side can end the arrangement.
Download the template
Free, no signup required. Fill in the blanks by hand, or use it below to fill and send for signature.
When to use it
Use it whenever you hire a nanny to care for your children in your home, full-time or part-time. A nanny who works in your home on your schedule is almost always your household employee rather than a contractor, so this template is written as an employment agreement and reminds you of the tax and wage rules that come with it.
What's typically included
- Family, nanny, and start date
- Household employment and tax reminder
- Children and duties, including what's not included
- Regular schedule and pay for cancelled hours
- Hourly pay, pay schedule, and overtime
- Paid vacation, sick days, and holidays
- Guaranteed pay when the family doesn't need care
- Expenses, driving, car seats, and insurance
- House rules, emergencies, and safety
- Privacy, social media, and cameras
- Reviews and raises
- Notice to end employment
- Signature blocks for the family and the nanny
How to fill it in
- Check your household employer obligations: above a yearly wage threshold, you must withhold and pay Social Security and Medicare taxes and issue a Form W-2, and your state may require unemployment insurance and more.
- Check your state's minimum wage, overtime, and paid sick leave rules. Several states have a Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights with extra protections.
- Be specific about duties. Saying what's not included, such as general housekeeping, avoids job creep and resentment.
- Attach your house rules, the children's medical information, and emergency contacts.
This document involves employment or workplace-compliance obligations that vary by state and by employer size. It is a general starting point only — not legal advice — and should be reviewed by an employment attorney licensed in your state before use.
Frequently asked questions
Is a nanny an employee or an independent contractor?
Almost always an employee. If the nanny works in your home on your schedule and follows your instructions about the children, the IRS treats them as your household employee. That brings minimum wage, overtime, and household employment tax obligations.
Do I have to pay nanny taxes?
If you pay a household employee more than the IRS's yearly threshold, yes: you withhold and pay Social Security and Medicare taxes and give them a Form W-2. You may also owe federal and state unemployment tax. A payroll service for household employers can handle this.
Does a nanny get overtime?
A live-out nanny is generally entitled to overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states add daily overtime or cover live-in nannies too.
Can a nanny agreement be signed online?
Yes. Under the U.S. ESIGN Act and state UETA laws, an e-signed nanny agreement is as valid as a paper one, and both the family and the nanny get the signed copy.
Ready to use this template?
Every word is editable before you send — this is a starting point, not a final draft.