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 parenting plan.
✅ Preparing Your Parenting Plan
1. Before starting: Both parents should discuss arrangements calmly, focusing on what's best for the children
2. While completing: Verify every section against all 72 compliance points for comprehensive coverage
3. Before signing: Review together, make adjustments, and ensure both parents fully understand all provisions
⚠️ What Makes a Good Parenting Plan?
👪 Child-Focused: Every decision should prioritise your children's welfare, stability, and emotional wellbeing — not parental convenience.
📅 Detailed but Flexible: Cover all scenarios (weekdays, weekends, holidays, emergencies) but allow reasonable flexibility when needed.
💬 Clear Communication: Specify how parents will communicate, share information, and make decisions together.
📝 Written Record: A written plan prevents misunderstandings and "he said/she said" disputes.
🔄 Regular Review: Children's needs change as they grow — plan for annual reviews or when circumstances change significantly.
🚫 Parenting Plan vs Child Arrangement Agreement
Parenting Plan: Covers day-to-day parenting decisions, communication styles, discipline approaches, routines, and how parents work together. Goes deeper into co-parenting relationship. Child Arrangement Agreement: Focuses primarily on where children live and contact schedules. Best Practice: Many families use both documents together for comprehensive coverage — the child arrangement agreement for contact basics, the parenting plan for everything else.
🔵 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
Parent 1 Full Legal Name
Complete legal name as shown on official documents. This identifies you in the agreement and should match your passport or driving licence.
🔴 Critical
Parent 1 Full Address
Current residential address including postcode. This establishes where the children will stay when with you and is needed for handover arrangements.
🔴 Critical
Parent 1 Contact Numbers
Mobile and/or landline numbers where you can be reached. Essential for emergencies and day-to-day communication about the children.
🔴 Critical
Parent 1 Email Address
Email address for written communications about arrangements, school matters, and non-urgent issues. Many parents prefer written records of discussions.
🟡 Important
Parent 1 Relationship to Child
Specify your relationship (e.g. biological mother, biological father, adoptive parent, step-parent with parental responsibility). Clarifies legal standing.
🔴 Critical
Parent 2 Full Legal Name
Complete legal name as shown on official documents. This identifies the other parent in the agreement.
🔴 Critical
Parent 2 Full Address
Current residential address including postcode. Establishes the second home location and is essential for handover planning.
🔴 Critical
Parent 2 Contact Numbers
Mobile and/or landline numbers. Essential for emergencies and coordinating arrangements.
🔴 Critical
Parent 2 Email Address
Email address for written communications. Creates a record of discussions and decisions about the children.
🟡 Important
Parent 2 Relationship to Child
Specify relationship to the child (e.g. biological father, biological mother, adoptive parent). Clarifies legal standing in the arrangement.
🔴 Critical
Full Name of Each Child
Complete legal names of all children covered by this parenting plan. If multiple children, list each one separately with their details.
🔴 Critical
Date of Birth for Each Child
Birth dates identify each child clearly and help determine age-appropriate arrangements. Different ages may need different schedules.
🔴 Critical
School/Nursery Details
Name and address of each child's school or nursery. Essential for school run arrangements, communications, and holiday planning.
🔴 Critical
Special Needs or Requirements
Any medical conditions, allergies, disabilities, or special educational needs that affect care arrangements. Both parents must be fully informed.
🟡 Important
Child's Preferences (Age Appropriate)
For older children, note any preferences they've expressed about arrangements. Courts consider children's views increasingly as they mature (especially from age 10+).
🔵 Recommended
Primary Residence Specified
State where children will primarily live (main home). This affects school catchment, GP registration, and official address for correspondence.
🔴 Critical
Time Division Specified
How time is divided between homes (e.g. 60/40, 50/50, every other weekend). Be specific about what this means in practice for your family.
🔴 Critical
Sleeping Arrangements
Confirm children have appropriate sleeping arrangements at both homes — their own bed, suitable bedroom, necessary items (clothing, toiletries, toys).
🟡 Important
Items That Travel Between Homes
Specify what travels with children (school bag, uniform, medications, special toys) versus what stays at each home. Reduces forgotten items and stress.
🔵 Recommended
Relocation Provisions
What happens if either parent needs to move? Specify notice period required and how distance moves will be handled to protect children's relationships with both parents.
🟡 Important
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Weekday Arrangements
Specify arrangements for Monday to Friday — who does school runs, where children are each night, any midweek contact with non-resident parent.
🔴 Critical
Weekend Arrangements
Specify weekend arrangements (e.g. alternate weekends, every weekend with one parent, split weekends). Include Friday evening start time and Sunday return time.
🔴 Critical
Midweek Contact
Any midweek visits or overnight stays with the non-resident parent (e.g. Wednesday evening, Tuesday overnight). Helps maintain regular contact.
🟡 Important
After-School Activities
Who takes children to clubs, sports, activities? How are these scheduled around contact time? Both parents should support children's activities.
🟡 Important
Telephone/Video Contact
When can children call/video chat with the other parent? Specify reasonable times that don't disrupt routines but maintain connection.
🟡 Important
Flexibility Provisions
How will you handle schedule changes due to work, illness, or special events? Agree on notice period and willingness to swap days when reasonable.
🔵 Recommended
School Holiday Division
How are school holidays split? Common options: 50/50 split, alternate years, or specific weeks to each parent. Plan for half-terms, Easter, summer, and Christmas.
🔴 Critical
Christmas Arrangements
Specify Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day arrangements. Common solutions: alternate years, split the day, or consistent pattern each year.
🔴 Critical
Children's Birthdays
How will children's birthdays be handled? Options: alternate years, split the day, separate celebrations, or always with primary carer with visit from other parent.
🟡 Important
Mother's Day and Father's Day
Children should typically spend Mother's Day with mum and Father's Day with dad, regardless of normal schedule. Specify arrangements for these dates.
🟡 Important
Religious/Cultural Holidays
If relevant, specify arrangements for religious or cultural celebrations (Eid, Diwali, Hanukkah, Easter, etc.) that are important to your family.
🔵 Recommended
Family Events
How will children attend family events (weddings, funerals, reunions) on both sides? Agree to notify each other and accommodate reasonable requests.
🔵 Recommended
Holiday Abroad Arrangements
Taking children abroad requires both parents' consent. Specify notice period, passport handling, and how foreign holidays are agreed. Include emergency contact procedures.
🟡 Important
⚡
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Handover Location
Where will handovers take place? Options: one parent's home, neutral location (school, family member), or alternating. Choose what's least stressful for children.
🔴 Critical
Handover Times
Specific times for handovers (e.g. "Friday 6pm" not "Friday evening"). Being precise prevents misunderstandings and late arrivals.
🔴 Critical
Transport Responsibility
Who provides transport? Common arrangement: collecting parent drives. Or split journeys. Consider fuel costs if one parent travels significantly further.
🟡 Important
Late Handover Procedure
What happens if someone is late? Agree on acceptable delay (e.g. 15 minutes) and communication required. Repeated lateness damages children's sense of security.
🟡 Important
Handover Conduct
Agree to keep handovers brief, positive, and conflict-free. No arguments in front of children. Save discussions for private conversations away from children.
🟡 Important
Primary Communication Method
How will parents communicate? Text, email, phone calls, or co-parenting app (like OurFamilyWizard or Talking Parents). Choose what works best for your situation.
🔴 Critical
Response Time Expectations
How quickly should messages be answered? Non-urgent: within 24-48 hours. Urgent: within a few hours. Define what constitutes "urgent" (emergencies vs schedule changes).
🟡 Important
Information Sharing
Agree to share important information: school reports, medical appointments, achievements, concerns. Neither parent should be "out of the loop" on significant matters.
🔴 Critical
Communication About Children Only
Agree that communications focus on children's needs, not relationship issues. Keep messages business-like and child-focused. Personal matters discussed separately or via mediator.
🟡 Important
Not Speaking Negatively About Other Parent
Commit to not criticising the other parent in front of children or within their hearing. Children love both parents — negative comments damage their wellbeing.
🔴 Critical
Bedtime Routines
Agree on consistent bedtimes across both homes (age-appropriate). Consistency helps children feel secure and maintains healthy sleep patterns.
🟡 Important
Homework Expectations
Agree on homework routines: when it's done, level of help provided, communicating about assignments. Both homes should support education consistently.
🟡 Important
Screen Time Rules
Consistent screen time limits across both homes. Agree on what's appropriate for TV, gaming, social media, and phones. Inconsistency creates conflict.
🟡 Important
Discipline Approach
Agree on discipline methods. Consistency across homes is important, but each home will have some differences. Major behavioural issues should be discussed and handled together.
🟡 Important
Diet and Nutrition
Any dietary requirements (allergies, vegetarian, religious)? General agreement on nutrition standards helps maintain children's health across both homes.
🔵 Recommended
New Partners
Agree on when new partners can be introduced to children and how. Consider waiting until relationship is serious, introducing gradually, not overnight stays early on.
🔵 Recommended
⚡
Instant Download
You've Done the Research. Now Finish It.
Complete parenting plan template — all sections included, professionally drafted.
Fill in your details in minutes and you're done.
£10 — Own It Forever
Create Your Parenting Plan Now
→
✅ 30-day money-back guarantee*
Preview before you buy • Lifetime updates • No subscription
School Choice Decisions
How will major school decisions be made (choice of school, change of school)? Parents with parental responsibility should decide together on significant educational matters.
🔴 Critical
School Communications
Both parents should receive school communications (newsletters, reports, invitations). Request duplicate communications or share information received.
🟡 Important
Parents' Evenings and Events
Both parents attend parents' evenings, school plays, sports days? Agree whether to attend together, separately, or take turns. Child's comfort comes first.
🟡 Important
Tutoring and Additional Support
How are decisions about tutoring, special needs support, or educational assessments made? Both parents should be involved and agree on significant interventions.
🔵 Recommended
School Trips and Activities
Who signs consent forms? Who pays for trips? Agree that both parents will support school activities and share costs fairly based on your financial arrangements.
🔵 Recommended
GP Registration
Where are children registered with GP? Both parents should have surgery contact details and be authorised to discuss children's health with the practice.
🔴 Critical
Medical Appointments
Who takes children to routine appointments (GP, dentist, optician)? Inform the other parent of appointments and outcomes. Share health records and concerns.
🟡 Important
Emergency Medical Decisions
In emergencies, the parent present can consent to necessary treatment. Agree to inform the other parent immediately. For non-urgent but significant treatment, discuss together.
🔴 Critical
Medications
If children take regular medication, both parents must have supplies and understand dosage/timing. Share information about any new prescriptions or changes.
🔴 Critical
Mental Health and Counselling
If children need counselling or mental health support, both parents should be involved in decisions. Separation can affect children — agree to support professional help if needed.
🟡 Important
Grandparents Contact
Children benefit from relationships with grandparents on both sides. Agree to facilitate reasonable contact with grandparents during your respective time.
🟡 Important
Other Family Members
Aunts, uncles, cousins — agree that children can maintain relationships with extended family on both sides. Don't restrict children's family connections as a way to hurt the other parent.
🔵 Recommended
Childcare by Family Members
If grandparents or other family provide childcare, agree on arrangements. The other parent should be notified if significant childcare is being provided by extended family.
🔵 Recommended
Step-Siblings and Half-Siblings
If either parent has other children (from new or previous relationships), consider how sibling relationships will be fostered. Children benefit from knowing their siblings.
🔵 Recommended
Discussion First
Agree to discuss disagreements calmly and directly before escalating. Most issues can be resolved through reasonable conversation focused on children's welfare.
🔴 Critical
Mediation Commitment
If direct discussion fails, agree to try family mediation before considering court. Mediation is cheaper, faster, and less damaging to children than court proceedings.
🔴 Critical
Cooling Off Period
If discussions become heated, agree to take a break (e.g. 24 hours) before continuing. Emotional conversations rarely produce good outcomes for children.
🟡 Important
Third Party Support
Identify who might help resolve disputes: trusted family member, mutual friend, or professional mediator. Having agreed support makes resolution easier.
🔵 Recommended
Court as Last Resort
Agree that court proceedings are only for serious disagreements that cannot be resolved any other way. Court should be avoided where possible for children's emotional wellbeing.
🟡 Important
Regular Review Schedule
Agree to review the parenting plan annually or when circumstances change significantly. Children's needs evolve as they grow — arrangements should evolve too.
🟡 Important
Trigger Events for Review
List events that trigger review: child starting school, changing schools, parent relocating, significant change in work hours, new partner moving in, child's expressed preferences changing.
🟡 Important
Amendment Process
How will changes be made? Both parents must agree to amendments. Changes should be in writing and dated. Neither parent can unilaterally change agreed arrangements.
🔴 Critical
Signatures and Date
Both parents should sign and date the plan. While not legally binding like a court order, a signed agreement shows commitment and can be referred to if disputes arise.
🔴 Critical
⚡
Instant Download
You've Done the Research. Now Finish It.
Complete parenting plan template — all sections included, professionally drafted.
Fill in your details in minutes and you're done.
£10 — Own It Forever
Create Your Parenting Plan 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 parenting plan with our professionally drafted template. Covers all 72 compliance points with living arrangements, contact schedules, holiday planning, communication protocols, day-to-day parenting decisions, education, healthcare, 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 Parenting Plan
Use this checklist as your guide to create your own plan. Remember that while parenting plans aren't legally binding like court orders, a well-drafted plan signed by both parents provides a clear reference point and shows good faith commitment to co-parenting. Consider mediation if you can't agree on key issues.
🔗
Official Government Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
General information about parenting plans in England & Wales
Do I need a solicitor for a parenting plan?
Most parents complete their parenting plan without one, especially when they can communicate reasonably well. Our template provides a professional framework that covers all essential areas. Consider solicitor review if there are complex issues, high conflict, or you want extra peace of mind.
Is a parenting plan legally binding?
No, a parenting plan is not legally enforceable like a court order. However, it creates a clear written record of what both parents agreed to, shows good faith commitment, and can be referred to if disputes arise. Courts view signed agreements favourably if matters ever go to court.
What's the difference between a parenting plan and child arrangement agreement?
A parenting plan is typically more detailed and covers day-to-day parenting decisions, communication styles, discipline approaches, and how parents will work together. A child arrangement agreement focuses primarily on where the child lives and contact schedules. Many parents use both documents together for comprehensive coverage.
What if one parent doesn't follow the parenting plan?
Since parenting plans aren't court orders, they can't be directly enforced. First, try discussing the issue calmly. If that fails, consider family mediation. As a last resort, you can apply to court for a Child Arrangements Order, which is legally enforceable. Your signed parenting plan provides evidence of what was agreed.
How often should we review our parenting plan?
Review your parenting plan at least annually or when circumstances change significantly: child starting or changing schools, either parent relocating, significant change in work hours, new partner moving in, or child's needs changing as they grow. Children's needs evolve — your plan should evolve with them.
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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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