What are the issues with having an informal parenting arrangement?

An informal parenting arrangement occurs when both parties come to a casual agreement about the care of their children. This typically occurs when there has been an amicable separation and is usually discussed between the two parties verbally, without documenting the agreement.

The risks associated with an informal parenting plan is that while both parties might be amicable in the weeks and months following separation, this may not always be the case. Circumstances often change, for example, when either side enters a new relationship or one parent wishes to relocate.

If a dispute does occur in the future and you do not have a legally binding agreement, there is significant potential for the relationship to deteriorate and this may result in a contested court case.