Casewellcustody andco-parenting blog
Field notes, statistics and practical advice for parents keeping records through separation, mediation and court.
44 articlesFree to readUK terms
every articlearticles and step-by-step guides, free to read
01
How to document a missed handover factuallyDocument a missed handover with factual wording, evidence labels, a realistic annotated entry, and a chronology that preserves context.
02
What to record in a custody journalA practical custody-journal contents checklist with inclusion rules, realistic entries, evidence references and a monthly chronology method.
03
How to prepare custody records for your lawyer or solicitorPrepare a focused custody-record review pack with an issue list, chronology, question sheet, evidence index and transparent gaps for a lawyer or solicitor.
04
Custody journal vs notes app: when notes stop being enoughPlenty of parents start custody documentation in Apple Notes or Google Docs. Here's what a notes app does fine, where it breaks down, and when a dedicated custody journal earns its keep.
05
How to document co-parenting: the complete methodA complete co-parenting documentation method with a two-minute record template, factual rewrites, evidence rules, and a chronology workflow.
06
Custody journal examples: five entries done rightFive worked custody journal examples, from a late pickup to a money dispute and a neutral day, with every wording choice explained.
07
How to organize custody evidenceOrganize custody evidence with an issue map, master index, chronology, source files and a review workflow that keeps relevant material easy to find.
08
How to organize text messages for custody evidencePreserve custody-related text messages with sender, date, surrounding context, originals, issue tags and chronology references instead of isolated screenshots.
09
How to prove parenting timeHow to prove parenting time actually exercised: the scheduled-vs-actual log, third-party corroboration from schools and activities, and how overnights get counted.
10
Documenting high-conflict co-parenting without becoming part of itA field guide to high-conflict co-parenting documentation: brief factual replies, parallel parenting, logging provocation without absorbing it, and keeping the record clean.
11
How to document parental alienationHow to document suspected parental alienation credibly: record specific dated behaviors rather than the label, involve professionals early, and avoid the mistakes that discredit real concerns.
12
How to prepare for family mediation in England and WalesPrepare for family mediation in England and Wales with a pack covering the MIAM, shuttle or joint sessions, Our Child's Plan, legal aid and the 拢500 voucher.
13
How to prepare records for a guardian ad litemPrepare child-focused records for a guardian ad litem or Children's Guardian with a role check, routine map, selective chronology and transparent source index.
14
Custody terms, translated into plain EnglishPlain-English definitions of the custody terms parents actually encounter: legal vs physical custody, parenting time, right of first refusal, guardian ad litem, ex parte, and more.
15
How to document late or missed child support paymentsHow to document late, missed or partial child support payments with due dates, amounts, proof and a running payment history.
16
How to log denied or withheld visitationLog denied or withheld visitation with the schedule source, proof made at the time, cancelled visits, make-up time and neutral wording for withholding.
17
How to document custody order violationsDocument custody order violations by linking the order term, actual event, evidence, response, impact and professional-review question.
18
How to record verbal co-parenting agreementsTurn a spoken co-parenting arrangement into a clear written confirmation with a copyable message, version history and disagreement workflow.
19
How to track shared child expenses after divorceA simple way to track shared child expenses after divorce with receipts, reimbursement status, messages and a clear running record.
20
How to write a factual co-parenting incident reportWrite a useful co-parenting incident report with a copyable template, event-versus-interpretation test and annotated factual rewrite.
21
How to keep a useful co-parenting communication logBuild a communication log that tracks requests, responses, decisions and originals without turning every message into an incident.
22
How to document parenting time exchangesRecord parenting time exchanges with scheduled time, actual time, place, messages and issues so patterns are clear without emotional wording.
23
What counts as evidence in a child arrangements case?Learn which records may matter in a child arrangements case, what each can and cannot show, and how to preserve messages, photos, schedules, school records, medical records and expenses.
24
What do family courts look for in child arrangements cases?Understand the welfare checklist used in England and Wales for child arrangements, including wishes and feelings, needs, harm, change and each parent's capability.
25
Right of first refusal in child custody: meaning, examples and what to recordLearn what a right-of-first-refusal childcare clause may mean, what details control it, common examples, and how to keep a clear factual record.
26
How to keep useful records in high-conflict co-parentingA selective high-conflict co-parenting record system focused on child impact, patterns, boundaries, safety and an organised chronology.
27
Custody documentation mistakes to avoidTen custody-documentation mistakes with practical fixes, factual rewrites and a pre-save checklist for stronger co-parenting records.
28
A practical co-parenting boundaries checklistA plain co-parenting boundaries checklist for communication, schedule changes, expenses and child-focused records.
29
What to look for in a custody exchange tracking appHow to choose a custody exchange tracking app that records scheduled time, actual time, messages, evidence and clean exports.
30
How to keep a contact log for family courtA practical contact log for family court: planned contact, actual contact, missed time, communication, evidence and review-ready exports.
31
Custody evidence checklist: collect, verify and organizeA custody evidence checklist that separates collection, verification, indexing, chronology and professional review instead of producing an evidence dump.
32
How to organize records for a custody modificationOrganize custody modification records around the existing order, dated change, child-related impact, attempted response and supporting sources.
33
How to organize photo and video evidence in custody casesPreserve photo and video evidence with originals, dates, context, metadata notes, event links and professional-review limits.
34
Call logs, voicemail and recordings in UK family courtCovert recordings, voicemails and call logs in UK family court, covering the Family Justice Council guidance, PD27A bundle limits and Form C79 enforcement.
35
How to organize school records in custody casesOrganize school records for custody preparation: attendance, lateness, teacher emails, pickup records, activities, source context and review packs.
36
How to organize medical records in custody casesOrganize medical records for custody preparation: appointments, instructions, medication, communication, expenses, privacy and review-ready exports.
37
What Stops Successful Co-Parenting? Statistics on Conflict and CooperationUK co-parenting statistics reveal how conflict, lack of support and unequal decision-making obstruct cooperation鈥攁nd what separated parents can do next.
38
How Much Does Co-Parenting Cost? Statistics on Expenses Across Two HomesUK co-parenting expense statistics explain maintenance, duplicated costs, reimbursements and why raising a child across two homes has no single price.
39
How Long Does a Child Arrangements Case Take? UK Family Court StatisticsPrivate-law children cases in England and Wales took 35 weeks on average in early 2026, and 52% finished within 26 weeks. See what slows a case and what to record.
40
Co-parent harassment: examples and how to document themExamples of co-parent harassment, which details belong in a written record, and how to log repeated contact, threats and pressure factually.
41
When a co-parent makes false accusationsHow to answer false accusations in a custody case with dated records: capture the exact claim, gather material created at the time, keep your reply factual.
42
What happens when a parent misses visitationWhat to do when the other parent doesn't show up for their parenting time: how to record no-shows, track the pattern, and keep the effect on your child factual.
43
How to print text messages for courtPrint text messages for court from an iPhone or Android: what each page must show, four ways to print, how to make a PDF and how to label the pages.
44
How to export a WhatsApp chat for courtExport a WhatsApp chat for court on iPhone or Android, what the file includes, why export can be switched off and how to print it with screenshots.
questions parents ask
Do I need a solicitor to use these?
No. Plenty of parents in England and Wales go to the family court without a solicitor. Dated records let you explain events in your own words, with a solicitor, a McKenzie friend or on your own.
What will a mediator or Cafcass ask about?
Cafcass officers and mediators want to understand day-to-day life and how it affects your child. A short, factual entry for each event is easier to talk through than a long letter. Choose the few that matter most beforehand.
Do I have to go to mediation first?
Usually. In England and Wales you normally attend a MIAM before applying for a child arrangements order. Exemptions exist, including for domestic abuse. Keeping records helps whichever route you take.
Do these work in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
Yes. A dated record works the same way anywhere. Scottish orders talk about residence and contact, and Northern Ireland has its own courts and forms, so copy the wording from your own order.
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