How to Use This Checklist
Click each checkbox to mark items as complete. Your progress is automatically saved to your browser. Use this checklist to verify every requirement before, during, and after creating your child arrangement agreement.
✅ Preparing Your Child Arrangement Agreement
1. Before starting: Both parents should discuss arrangements openly and focus on what's best for the children
2. While completing: Verify every section against all 67 compliance points for completeness
3. Before signing: Ensure both parents fully understand and agree to all provisions
⚠️ Why Child Arrangement Agreements Matter
👪 Children's Stability: Clear arrangements reduce confusion and conflict, helping children feel secure about where they'll be and when.
📅 Predictable Schedules: Defined contact times, holiday arrangements, and handover procedures prevent last-minute disputes.
⚖️ Avoiding Court: Written agreements can prevent expensive court proceedings — courts prefer parents who can agree arrangements themselves.
📝 Clear Record: Documentation prevents "he said/she said" disputes about what was agreed.
🔄 Flexibility: Unlike court orders, parental agreements can be easily updated as children's needs change.
🚫 Important Considerations
Children's Welfare Paramount: All arrangements must prioritise the children's best interests, not parental convenience. Age-Appropriate: Arrangements should suit children's ages and developmental needs — a toddler's needs differ from a teenager's. Not Legally Binding: Parental agreements aren't enforceable like court orders, but courts respect them if they're reasonable and working. Review Regularly: Children's needs change — review arrangements annually or when circumstances change significantly.
🔵 Understanding Importance Levels
🔴 Critical: Should have — essential for clarity and children's welfare
🟡 Important: Should have — significantly reduces potential disputes
🔵 Recommended: Nice to have — best practice for comprehensive coverage
Child's Full Legal Name
Complete legal name of the child as shown on birth certificate. If multiple children, create separate sections or clearly identify each child. This identifies who the agreement applies to.
🔴 Critical
Child's Date of Birth
Full date of birth. Determines age-appropriate provisions and when arrangements may need reviewing as child matures. Different ages have different needs and increasing capacity to express their own views.
🔴 Critical
Child's Current Address
Where the child currently lives. This is the child's primary residence and base for school, healthcare, and daily routine. Important for school catchment and GP registration.
🔴 Critical
Special Needs or Health Considerations
Any disabilities, special educational needs (SEN), medical conditions, allergies, medications, or therapy requirements. Essential for both parents to know and accommodate. Affects contact arrangements and decision-making provisions.
🔴 Critical
Parent 1's Full Legal Name
Complete legal name of the first parent as shown on birth certificate or other official documents. This identifies one party to the agreement. Often the parent with whom the child primarily resides.
🔴 Critical
Parent 1's Date of Birth
Full date of birth for positive identification. Ensures the correct person is party to the agreement.
🟡 Important
Parent 1's Address
Full residential address. Essential for service of documents and for child to know where this parent lives. Important if this is where child will spend contact time.
🔴 Critical
Parent 1's Contact Details
Mobile phone and email address. Essential for day-to-day communication about the child, emergencies, schedule changes, and coordinating arrangements.
🔴 Critical
Parent 1's Parental Responsibility Status
Confirm whether Parent 1 has parental responsibility. Mothers automatically have it. Married fathers have it. Unmarried fathers need to be on birth certificate (after 2003) or obtain it via agreement or court order. Determines who can make legal decisions.
🔴 Critical
Parent 2's Full Legal Name
Complete legal name of the second parent. Both parents must be clearly identified for the agreement to be effective. Often the non-resident parent.
🔴 Critical
Parent 2's Date of Birth
Full date of birth for positive identification. Ensures the correct person is party to the agreement.
🟡 Important
Parent 2's Address
Full residential address. Essential for service of documents and for child to know where this parent lives. Important if this is where child will spend contact time.
🔴 Critical
Parent 2's Contact Details
Mobile phone and email address. Essential for day-to-day communication about the child, emergencies, schedule changes, and coordinating arrangements.
🔴 Critical
Parent 2's Parental Responsibility Status
Confirm whether Parent 2 has parental responsibility. Important for decision-making rights and legal responsibilities. Without parental responsibility, a parent cannot consent to medical treatment or school matters.
🔴 Critical
Where Child Will Live
State which parent the child lives with primarily. This is their main home, school catchment base, and where they spend most of their time. Usually determines who receives Child Benefit and claims Universal Credit for child element.
🔴 Critical
Primary Residence Address
Full address where child primarily lives. This address is used for school registration, GP registration, and official correspondence. Child should have a stable primary base.
🔴 Critical
School Term-Time Living Arrangements
Specific provision for where child lives during school term time if different from general arrangements. Some parents share more equally during holidays but child needs stability during term time.
🟡 Important
Shared Care Arrangements (if applicable)
If child's time is split more equally between parents (e.g., 50/50, week on/week off), state the specific pattern clearly. Detail which weeks or days with each parent. Requires careful coordination.
🟡 Important
Transition Arrangements for Young Children
For very young children or those finding separation difficult, state how arrangements will transition. May start with shorter, more frequent contact and build up gradually. Child's emotional readiness is paramount.
🔵 Recommended
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Weekday Contact Schedule
Specific days and times for contact during school weeks. State exactly which weekdays (e.g., "Every Wednesday from 3:30pm to 7pm"). Vagueness like "regular contact" causes disputes. Children need routine and predictability.
🔴 Critical
Weekend Contact Arrangements
Which weekends child spends with which parent. Common patterns: alternate weekends, every weekend, first and third weekends. State start and end times (e.g., "Saturday 10am to Sunday 5pm"). Weekend contact crucial for meaningful time.
🔴 Critical
Overnight Stays Provision
Confirm whether child stays overnight with non-resident parent and how often. Some young children may not be ready for overnights initially. State which nights child stays over (e.g., "Saturday nights on contact weekends").
🔴 Critical
Alternate Week Pattern (if applicable)
For more extensive sharing, detail the week-on/week-off pattern if used. State exact changeover day and time. This pattern works better for older children and requires both homes close to school.
🟡 Important
Term-Time vs. Holiday Schedule Difference
Acknowledge that contact may differ between term-time (school routine) and school holidays (more flexibility). State whether standard pattern continues or changes during holidays. Some parents increase contact during holidays.
🟡 Important
School Inset Days and Non-Pupil Days
What happens on inset days, teacher training days, and non-pupil days when school is closed but parents work? Prevents last-minute arguments about childcare. Often shared or taken by parent not working.
🔵 Recommended
Additional Midweek Contact
Any additional contact time beyond main schedule: dinner visits, after-school pickups, breakfast before school. Particularly important for non-resident parent to maintain regular involvement in child's daily life.
🔵 Recommended
Flexibility for Reasonable Changes
Acknowledge that rigid adherence to schedule isn't always possible. Include provision for reasonable, advance-notice swaps by mutual agreement. Shows cooperation and puts child's needs first. Doesn't override schedule but allows sensible adjustments.
🟡 Important
Contact Schedule Template Attached
Reference that a visual contact schedule template is attached showing the pattern clearly. Calendar format helps everyone (including child) understand when they'll be where. Particularly useful for schools and grandparents.
🟡 Important
School Holiday Division Approach
How school holidays are divided: equal split, alternating years, specific pattern. More disputes arise over holidays than any other issue. State the principle (e.g., "divided equally between both parents") then detail specifics.
🔴 Critical
Christmas Arrangements
Specific provision for Christmas: who has Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day. Common approach: alternate years or split the day. State exact times (e.g., "Christmas Day 9am-3pm then 3pm-9pm"). Christmas is highly emotional - clarity prevents conflict.
🔴 Critical
New Year Arrangements
Who has New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Often alternates with Christmas (e.g., parent who doesn't have Christmas has New Year). Prevents disputes about this special occasion.
🟡 Important
Easter Arrangements
How Easter holidays are divided. Often split in half or alternated by year. State whether Good Friday and Easter Monday are included in the split or follow usual weekend pattern.
🟡 Important
Half-Term and Break Division
How October half-term, February half-term, and May half-term are split. Often each parent has half, or they alternate who gets which break. Prevents last-minute arguments when breaks approach.
🟡 Important
Child's Birthday Arrangements
How child's birthday is spent. Options: child chooses, alternates yearly, always with same parent, split the day, or birthday follows usual schedule with celebration separately. Both parents should be able to celebrate.
🔴 Critical
Mother's Day and Father's Day
Confirm child spends Mother's Day with mother and Father's Day with father (or at least part of the day). These occasions are important for parent-child relationships.
🟡 Important
Other Special Family Occasions
How other significant events are handled: family weddings, christenings, significant birthdays, religious festivals. Acknowledges these occur and should be discussed reasonably rather than rigidly following schedule.
🔵 Recommended
⚡
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Handover Time
Exact time for handovers. Not "around 6pm" but "6pm." Punctuality matters - late handovers distress children and create conflict. Different times may apply for different days (e.g., school pickup at 3:30pm, weekend at 10am).
🔴 Critical
Handover Location
Where handovers occur: at each other's homes, neutral location (park, McDonald's, school gates), or hybrid approach. Neutral venues reduce tension if relationship is acrimonious. School handovers work well during term.
🔴 Critical
Handover Procedure
How handovers are conducted: brief, polite, focused on child. No discussions of adult issues. Child's belongings, medication, and any relevant updates provided. Both parents remain calm and cooperative - children should not witness conflict.
🔴 Critical
Who Collects/Returns Child
State whether receiving parent collects or departing parent delivers, or whether this varies. If using third parties (grandparents) to collect, state who's authorized. Clarity prevents confusion and no-shows.
🟡 Important
What Child Brings to Contact
What child should bring: clothing, school bag, medication, special toy, etc. Prevents arguments about forgotten items. Both homes should have basics, but some items travel (e.g., school bag, medication, favorite teddy).
🔵 Recommended
Phone and Video Call Rights
Child's right to phone or video call the other parent when apart. This maintains emotional connection and reassures child both parents remain available. Essential for child's wellbeing during separation.
🔴 Critical
Frequency of Contact Calls
How often child can call: daily, alternate days, certain days. Some children need daily contact, others less. Balance child's needs with not disrupting time with resident parent. Often "daily before bedtime" or "three times per week."
🟡 Important
Duration of Contact Calls
Reasonable duration for calls. Not too long (disrupts routine) but long enough for meaningful connection. Often 10-15 minutes for young children, longer for older children. Flexibility for special occasions or child's emotional needs.
🔵 Recommended
Appropriate Times for Contact Calls
When calls should occur to avoid disrupting child's routine: not during meals, homework time, or late at bedtime (unless that's the agreed routine). Balance accessibility with child's daily activities.
🔵 Recommended
Method of Communication
How calls are facilitated: phone, FaceTime, WhatsApp video, etc. Both parents should facilitate contact - not monitor or listen in. Privacy appropriate to child's age. Older children may have their own device; younger children use parent's.
🟡 Important
Education Decisions
Who makes (or how you'll jointly make) major education decisions: school choice, school changes, special educational needs provision, tutoring. Both parents with parental responsibility should be involved. Schools need both parents' consent for major changes.
🔴 Critical
Medical and Health Decisions
Who makes (or how you'll jointly make) medical decisions: GP choice, elective procedures, orthodontics, therapy, medication. Emergency treatment doesn't need joint agreement, but routine and elective does. Both parents should be informed of health issues.
🔴 Critical
Religious Upbringing
Agreement on religious upbringing: which faith (if any), religious education, religious ceremonies. Particularly important if parents have different faiths or one is religious and one isn't. Child should not be confused by conflicting messages.
🟡 Important
Extracurricular Activities
How decisions about extracurricular activities are made: clubs, sports, music lessons, scouts, etc. Consider cost (who pays), transport (who takes), and impact on contact time. Major commitments should be discussed jointly.
🔵 Recommended
Hair, Appearance, and Clothing Decisions
Agreement on significant changes to child's appearance: piercings, hair length/color, tattoos (for older children). Day-to-day clothing choices by resident parent, but both should agree on major changes.
🔵 Recommended
Travel and Passport Arrangements
Agreement on travel: UK holidays (usually parent's decision during their time), international travel (requires other parent's knowledge and consent), passport applications. State if parent may take child abroad and notification required.
🔴 Critical
Emergency Decision Protocol
In genuine emergencies affecting child's welfare, the parent present may make necessary decisions but must inform other parent as soon as possible. Emergency means immediate risk to child's safety or wellbeing.
🔴 Critical
Information Sharing Commitment
Both parents agree to share important information about child: school reports, medical updates, achievements, concerns. Both should be informed and involved in child's life even when child isn't with them. Schools should contact both parents.
🟡 Important
⚡
Instant Download
You've Done the Research. Now Finish It.
Complete child arrangement agreement template — all clauses included, professionally drafted.
Fill in your details in minutes and you're done.
£10 — Own It Forever
Create Your Agreement Now
→
✅ 30-day money-back guarantee*
Preview before you buy • Lifetime updates • No subscription
Grandparents and Extended Family Contact
Acknowledge child's right to maintain relationships with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins from both sides. Parents agree to facilitate (not obstruct) extended family relationships. Grandparents important for child's sense of identity.
🟡 Important
Siblings and Half-Siblings Contact
If child has siblings or half-siblings, acknowledge importance of maintaining these relationships. Sibling contact promotes wellbeing. Where siblings have different arrangements, consider coordination to keep siblings together.
🟡 Important
Introduction of New Partners
Protocol for introducing child to new partners: advance notice to other parent, not too soon after separation, gradual introduction, not overnight stays initially. Other parent can't veto but should be informed and child's reaction monitored.
🟡 Important
No Badmouthing or Negative Comments
Both parents agree not to speak negatively about the other to or in front of child, and to prevent others (family, new partners) from doing so. Children shouldn't be put in middle or feel disloyal. Protecting child from adult conflict is paramount.
🔴 Critical
Mediation as First Step
Agreement that if disputes arise, both parents will attempt mediation before court. Family mediation helps resolve disagreements constructively. Much less expensive, stressful, and damaging than court proceedings. MIAM (Mediation Information Assessment Meeting) often required before court anyway.
🔴 Critical
Review Triggers
Circumstances triggering review of arrangements: significant change in child's needs, change in parent's circumstances (job, relocation), child's request, starting school/secondary school, or other major life changes. Flexibility as children grow.
🟡 Important
Regular Review Timeline
Commitment to review arrangements regularly even without trigger events: annually, every two years, or at developmental milestones. Children's needs change - what works for toddler won't work for teenager. Proactive reviews prevent arrangements becoming outdated.
🟡 Important
Amendment Process
How agreement can be amended: must be in writing, signed by both parents, dated. Prevents informal verbal changes creating confusion about what's agreed. Amendments should be dated and attached to original agreement.
🟡 Important
Child's Views to Be Considered
Acknowledgment that as child matures, their views should be listened to and considered (though not determinative). Age-appropriate involvement: teenager's views carry more weight than toddler's. Child should never feel pressured to choose between parents.
🔴 Critical
Both Parents' Signatures
Agreement must be signed and dated by both parents. Signatures confirm both agree to all terms and put child's welfare first. Without both genuine signatures, agreement has no effect.
🔴 Critical
Date of Agreement
Clear date when agreement is signed. Important for calculating review periods and understanding when terms were agreed. Shows agreement reflects current circumstances and child's current age/needs.
🔴 Critical
Contact Schedule Templates Attached
Visual schedule templates attached showing contact pattern clearly: weekly calendar, fortnightly pattern, holiday division. Makes arrangements clear to everyone including child. Essential to share with schools so they know who's collecting child.
🟡 Important
Child's Welfare Paramount Acknowledgment
Both parents acknowledge that child's welfare is paramount and that this agreement is made with child's best interests at heart, not parental convenience. This reinforces Children Act 1989 principle and demonstrates child-focused approach.
🔴 Critical
⚡
Instant Download
You've Done the Research. Now Finish It.
Complete child arrangement agreement template — all clauses included, professionally drafted.
Fill in your details in minutes and you're done.
£10 — Own It Forever
Create Your Agreement Now
→
✅ 30-day money-back guarantee*
Preview before you buy • Lifetime updates • No subscription
Next Steps
Now that you've reviewed the compliance checklist, you have two options:
✅ Use Our Ready-Made Template
Create your child arrangement agreement with our professionally drafted template. Covers all 67 compliance points with contact schedules, holiday arrangements, decision-making provisions, and dispute resolution. Available in both Smart Interview (guided) and Classic Editor (direct editing) modes for just £10. Preview the full template with watermark before you buy. Get the template →
📝 Create Your Own Agreement
Use this checklist as your guide, but remember incomplete agreements can lead to disputes — unclear contact arrangements, missing holiday provisions, or vague decision-making responsibilities can all cause conflict that affects your children.
🔗
Official Government Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
General information about child arrangement agreements in England & Wales
Do I need a solicitor for a child arrangement agreement?
Many parents complete child arrangement agreements without one. When both parents agree on arrangements and can communicate effectively, a template-based agreement works well. Consider mediation or legal advice if you cannot agree, or if there are concerns about safety or domestic abuse.
Is a child arrangement agreement legally binding?
Parental agreements are not legally enforceable like court orders. However, if you later go to court, judges respect reasonable agreements that parents have made. For enforceability, you can apply to have your agreement made into a consent order by the court.
What's the difference between "lives with" and "spends time with"?
Since 2014, courts use "child arrangements" rather than "custody" and "access". A "lives with" order specifies the child's main home. A "spends time with" order covers contact with the other parent. Many children effectively have two homes with substantial time at each.
What if one parent doesn't follow the agreement?
If your agreement isn't being followed and you can't resolve it through discussion, consider family mediation first (required before most court applications). If that fails, you can apply to court for a Child Arrangements Order, which is enforceable.
How often should we review the agreement?
Review annually or when circumstances change significantly: child starts school, parent relocates, new partner moves in, child's expressed preferences change, or either parent's work schedule changes substantially. What works for a toddler won't suit a teenager.
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Disclaimer: This checklist is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we strive to keep information accurate and up to date, the law is complex and subject to change. Every situation is unique. Last updated: May 2026.
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