Deciding the terms of a co-parenting agreement that will dictate how you intend to raise your child with another person or a group of people is an intricate process, and one that everyone involved will want to get right.
For expert legal advice on creating a co-parenting agreement, call 0800 422 0123 or get in touch online to discuss your situation in confidence.
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Who we can help – anyone wanting to agree how they will raise a child together.
How we help – expert legal advice on co-parenting agreements, parental responsibility and resolving disputes.
Why choose us – for our Resolution-led approach, mediation expertise and top-tier rankings.
We have a wealth of experience helping people from all walks of life agree how they will raise a child together and can also assist with acquiring parental status if required.
We can help you create a co-parenting agreement with:
Someone you were in a relationship with but are now separated from or divorced.
Someone you have never been in a relationship with, for example a friend.
A group of people to give your child more than two parental figures. (In this situation, it is important to understand how legal parental responsibility is granted in the UK.)
Whether you already have a child or you are planning to, our expert co-parenting solicitors can help you reach an agreement centred on your child’s best interests, that works for you all, so you can move forward together with clarity, certainty and confidence.
Why draw up a co-parenting agreement?
If you are entering into a parenting arrangement, you may wish to consider creating a co-parenting agreement.
Although not legally binding, this comprehensive document will set out your agreed intentions for the future. Preparing a co-parenting agreement can help identify any mismatch in expectations between you, easing the path for everybody involved and enabling any disputes to be resolved more smoothly.
The agreement will be bespoke to your particular co-parenting arrangement. Examples of what a co-parenting agreement might cover include:
What role each parent will play in the child’s life
Who the child will live with and where
What each parent’s financial responsibility is
Expectations around education
How much time the parents will spend together with the child
Co-parenting agreements and legal parenthood
A co-parenting agreement does not grant legal parenthood or parental responsibility, so it’s important that it clearly states who the legal parents are as there can only be two.
A legal parent is financially responsible for the child. Legal parenthood can also determine inheritance rights. However, the law can be complex in recognising who a child’s legal parent is.
In the UK, the person who gives birth is always recognised as a legal parent unless they choose to relinquish their status through adoption or a parental order. The other legal parent will be determined by the marital/civil partner status of the parties involved, and where and how conception takes place. It is therefore important to understand the arrangement you are entering into and who will acquire legal parent status.
Co-parenting and parental responsibility
Parental responsibility is the right to make important decisions about the welfare and day to day upbringing of the child. It’s possible to be a legal parent without having parental responsibility and vice versa. If a person is named on the birth certificate, that person will have legal parental responsibility for the child unless they relinquish it.
There is no limit to the number of people who can have parental responsibility. It can be acquired after the birth of the child for those who do not automatically acquire parental status.
If a co-parenting arrangement is being entered into, we recommend seeking legal advice to ensure that everyone involved understands who has legal parenthood and any other legal status, such as parental responsibility, is obtained for those who do not have it.
Co-parenting disputes
In this video, family law partner, Clare Webb, explains your options for tackling any co-parenting challenge you are facing following the breakdown of your relationship with the other parent.
“They’re professional, organised and pay great attention to detail, always making sure that everything is done properly.” Chambers 2026
“Their advice to clients is incredibly in-depth without being confusing.” Legal 500 2026
“Clarke Willmott has a significant regional presence and an excellent reputation for handling more complex and high-value financial remedy work.” Chambers 2026
“I have met the team a few times and they are very friendly and approachable in my capacity as a mediator and a solicitor. They are very knowledgeable and experts in their field, dealing with high net worth and complex cases. Easy to talk to and able to pick up the phone and have a discussion about the case on a collaborative basis.” Legal 500 2026
“They’re professional, organised and pay great attention to detail, always making sure that everything is done properly.”Chambers 2026
“Their advice to clients is incredibly in-depth without being confusing.” Legal 500 2026
“Clarke Willmott has a significant regional presence and an excellent reputation for handling more complex and high-value financial remedy work.”Chambers 2026
“I have met the team a few times and they are very friendly and approachable in my capacity as a mediator and a solicitor. They are very knowledgeable and experts in their field, dealing with high net worth and complex cases. Easy to talk to and able to pick up the phone and have a discussion about the case on a collaborative basis.”Legal 500 2026
A co-parenting agreement is a written document recording how two or more people intend to raise a child together. It can clarify expectations, reduce potential disputes, and provide a shared understanding of financial, practical and emotional responsibilities.
No, a co-parenting agreement is not legally binding. However, when professionally drafted and entered into voluntarily, they can be persuasive evidence of your shared intentions if disagreements arise later.
No, a co-parenting agreement can record intentions but cannot grant legal status. Parental responsibility can only be acquired through legal mechanisms such as being named on the birth certificate, a parental responsibility agreement, or a Court order.
Typically, a co-parenting agreement covers where the child will live, financial contributions, education, medical decisions, parental roles, time spent with each parent and how disagreements will be resolved.
Yes, it can. While only two individuals can be legal parents, others can obtain parental responsibility, which may be addressed within the agreement and through legal steps.
A co-parenting agreement can include a dispute resolution process, such as mediation. If issues cannot be resolved amicably, Court applications such as Child Arrangements Orders or Specific Issue Orders may be necessary.
Yes, it is. Many people raise children together without being in a romantic relationship. A co-parenting agreement can help create clarity, certainty and stability for the child.
Rayner advises on the issues that arise for an individual following the breakdown of a relationship in relation to divorce/civil partnership dissolution, their financial affairs and their children along with having specialist expertise in cases involving domestic abuse with a particular focus on those involving controlling and coercive behaviour.
Adam advises clients regarding all aspects of private family law including cohabitation, separation, divorce and related financial issues, disputes concerning children and nuptial agreements.
Clare has built her practice with a commitment to helping her clients resolve their issues in a constructive and conciliatory way. In doing so, she will always have regard to the long-term hopes and aspirations for the family, whilst of course protecting her client’s interest.
Philippa is committed to helping couples navigate all aspects of the legal process on the breakdown of their relationship in a pragmatic, collaborative and family-focused way including supporting couples to reach arrangements for their children and achieve healthy future co-parenting relationships.
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A new organisation – Bristol Family Law Solutions (BFLS) – was officially launched at a well-attended event held at Clarke Willmott’s Bristol office during Family Mediation Week.
Coronation Street storyline – controlling and coercive behaviour
Controlling and coercive behaviour is subtle and occurs over a prolonged period of time. In the majority of cases the behaviour has slowly escalated over a long period of time to the extent the sufferer is genuinely unaware of what is happening as it becomes a normal part of the relationship.
