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Cumbria DFJ Website

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  • 🏠 Home
  • Info: Court Users
    • Court Locations
    • Safety at Court
    • Guide 4 Separated Parents
    • Useful Phone Numbers
    • Co-Parenting Apps
    • Parenting Plans
    • Reporters in Family Court
    • Court Forms
    • Parental Responsibility
  • Help For Court Users
    • Help with Separation
    • Help with Domestic Abuse
    • Help with the Law
    • Help with Care Cases
    • Help Writing a Statement
    • Help for Children
  • Info: Professionals
    • Template Orders
    • Public Law Outline
    • Domestic Abuse
    • Guidance and Resources
    • Useful Legal Links
    • Transparency
    • Supervision Orders
    • Plan Together 4 Children
    • The Media in Family Court
    • Born into Care
    • Narcissism and Family Law
    • Coercive Control and DA
    • How to Build a Website
  • Local Practice Directions
  • More
    • 🏠 Home
    • Info: Court Users
      • Court Locations
      • Safety at Court
      • Guide 4 Separated Parents
      • Useful Phone Numbers
      • Co-Parenting Apps
      • Parenting Plans
      • Reporters in Family Court
      • Court Forms
      • Parental Responsibility
    • Help For Court Users
      • Help with Separation
      • Help with Domestic Abuse
      • Help with the Law
      • Help with Care Cases
      • Help Writing a Statement
      • Help for Children
    • Info: Professionals
      • Template Orders
      • Public Law Outline
      • Domestic Abuse
      • Guidance and Resources
      • Useful Legal Links
      • Transparency
      • Supervision Orders
      • Plan Together 4 Children
      • The Media in Family Court
      • Born into Care
      • Narcissism and Family Law
      • Coercive Control and DA
      • How to Build a Website
    • Local Practice Directions

Cumbria DFJ Website

Cumbria DFJ WebsiteCumbria DFJ WebsiteCumbria DFJ Website
  • 🏠 Home
  • Info: Court Users
    • Court Locations
    • Safety at Court
    • Guide 4 Separated Parents
    • Useful Phone Numbers
    • Co-Parenting Apps
    • Parenting Plans
    • Reporters in Family Court
    • Court Forms
    • Parental Responsibility
  • Help For Court Users
    • Help with Separation
    • Help with Domestic Abuse
    • Help with the Law
    • Help with Care Cases
    • Help Writing a Statement
    • Help for Children
  • Info: Professionals
    • Template Orders
    • Public Law Outline
    • Domestic Abuse
    • Guidance and Resources
    • Useful Legal Links
    • Transparency
    • Supervision Orders
    • Plan Together 4 Children
    • The Media in Family Court
    • Born into Care
    • Narcissism and Family Law
    • Coercive Control and DA
    • How to Build a Website
  • Local Practice Directions

Parenting Plans

Parenting Plans

A parenting plan is a written agreement worked out between co-parents that covers the practical issues of parenting. Co-parents are those who share the duties of bringing up children, especially those who are separated or not in a relationship.


 A parenting plan can help because it clearly shows what arrangements and actions you have agreed to meet the needs of your children. This can sometimes mean that you can avoid having to go to court to reach such agreement. It can help you to think about what is in the best interests of your children and to put the needs of your children first. 

  

A parenting plan is a written agreement worked out between parents (and sometimes grandparents and other family members) after they separate. The plan covers the practical issues of parenting. It asks you to think about your children and, based on their sex, ages and personalities, what they are likely to need. A parenting plan must put the best interests of the child first and set out a shared commitment to your children and their future

Online Parenting Plan

A parenting plan can be completed online by both parents.

  

The many benefits of making a parenting plan together include:


  • helping everyone involved know what is expected of them
  • creating a clear agreement to refer back to, and
  • setting out practical decisions about your children, such as living arrangements, education and health care.


If you do go to court in the future, it is very likely that judges will expect you to have started a parenting plan.


It works by one parent starting a plan and making some suggestions before sending their proposal to their co-parent. This process can continue until you reach agreement over some, most, or all areas. The parenting plan can be downloaded and shared with other people including your children, a mediator, a Cafcass Family Court Adviser or the court itself.

Some parents and carers may complete a parenting plan as part of their learning on a Planning Together for Children course. Planning Together for Children is for those who are referred to the course by a family court adviser or by the court itself.

Go to Online Parenting Planner

Word version of the Parenting Plan

As well as using the online Parenting Plan it is possible to download a version of the plan in MS Word, so that it can be completed without needing to be online.


If you are thinking about completing a Parenting Plan online or asking your co-parent to take part in completing one, it may be a good idea to have a look at the Word version to get an idea of what sort of things you will be asked to think about when using the online planner. 

Download the Word Parenting Plan

When is a Parenting Plan not Appropriate?

If any of the following are occurring and you do not feel safe to continue with the parenting plan, then please do not go ahead. 


  • Any form of domestic abuse or violence
  • Any actual or attempted child abduction
  • Any child abuse
  • The abuse of drugs, alcohol or other substance misuse
  • Any other safety or welfare concerns that place anyone at significant risk of harm. 

Other Useful Information

Help with Separation

Help with Separation

Go to the page on this website to find out more information about getting help with separation.

Help with Separation

Co-Parenting Apps

Help with Separation

This website contains information about phone and computer apps that can help with managing co-parenting.

Co-Parenting Apps

Planning Together for Children

The link below will take you to the Cafcass website page explaining what happens if the Court or a Family Court Adviser asks you to attend the Planning Together for Children course.

Planning Together for Children

Domestic Abuse

Help with the Law

The link below will take you to the page on this website dealing with help for people who are or have experienced domestic abuse.

Domestic Abuse

Safety at Court

Help with the Law

Help with the Law

If you are coming to court and are worried about your safety in the court building or court room, the page link below will give you information about the things that can happen at court to help.

Safety at Court

Help with the Law

Help with the Law

Help with the Law

Information about legal help can be found by clicking on the link below.

Help with the Law

Disclaimer

Nothing on this website constitutes legal advice and the inclusion of any other website or publication does not imply or mean an endorsement of the contents thereof. Any messages sent via this website do not constitute formal or official communication with any member of the judiciary or court staff.

Copyright © 2025 Cumbria DFJ Website - All Rights Reserved.

  • 🏠 Home
  • Court Locations
  • Safety at Court
  • Guide 4 Separated Parents
  • Useful Phone Numbers
  • Co-Parenting Apps
  • Parenting Plans
  • Reporters in Family Court
  • Court Forms
  • Parental Responsibility
  • Help with Separation
  • Help with Domestic Abuse
  • Help with the Law
  • Help with Care Cases
  • Help Writing a Statement
  • Help for Children
  • Template Orders
  • Public Law Outline
  • Domestic Abuse
  • Useful Legal Links
  • Transparency
  • Plan Together 4 Children
  • The Media in Family Court
  • Born into Care
  • Local Practice Directions

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