Stranger Danger: Co-Parenting & Associated Risks

Co-parenting websites allow strangers to connect and agree to have a child together. They are like a dating website in that members upload a profile picture and details about themselves in the hope of matching with another potential parent.

There has been a rise in the number of adults looking to meet someone solely for the purpose of becoming a parent. Co-parenting websites cater for individuals looking for a platonic relationship, which can be an attractive alternative to sperm donation or surrogacy because the other parent can have an ongoing involvement in the child’s life.

In the modern day, women are opting to have children later in life due to focusing on their careers, and many seek to embark on co-parenting due to the fear of the ticking biological clock.

If you are contemplating having a child via co-parenting, you should obtain legal advice and be alert to the potential risks. Co-parenting facilitates a way for strangers to have children with one another, which can inevitably generate complications.

The first issue is that you may not truly know the person with whom you are having a child. 

Risk 1: Difficulties in agreeing on child arrangements 

It can be difficult for separated couples who know each other very well and were previously in a loving relationship to agree on arrangements for their child, let alone for two complete strangers to attempt to reach an agreement. 

Where parents have met through a co-parenting website, often the parents may live far away from one another. Therefore, from a practical point of view, having shared care may not be possible, and this can cause friction between the parents.

Co-parents may not agree on who the child should live with or who the child should spend time with. One parent may prevent the other parent from seeing the child altogether. Accordingly, this may result in a dispute between the parents.

If parents cannot resolve child arrangements between themselves, they may need to try and mediate on the issue or, as a last resort, apply to the court for a child arrangements order.  

For more information on child arrangements, see our blog Are You Prevented From Seeing Your Children? 

Risk 2: Opening the door to potential Schedule 1 Claims under the Children Act 1989 

Where parents are unmarried, Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 enables a parent with whom the child lives to apply for the below orders against the parent with whom the child does not live:

1. Periodical Payments 
2. Lump Sum Payments 
3. Housing Provision 
4. Legal Services Order

Accordingly, co-parenting could become an expensive arrangement; having a child with someone via co-parenting could result in you paying the other parent regular payments, a large lump sum, or even being compelled to provide them with a property to live in.  

For further information, please see our blog Financial Provisions for Unmarried Couples: Claims under Schedule 1 Children Act 1989.