Why OurFamilyWizard Could Be the Solution You Need for Co-Parenting Challenges

How OurFamilyWizard helps in various co-parenting challenges 

Let’s explore how each feature of OurFamilyWizard can support you through real-world co-parenting situations.

1. Reduce misunderstandings with clear, documented tamper-proof messaging

“He said, she said” arguments are common after separation. Traditional emails and texts can be misinterpreted, edited or deleted, leading to disputes about who said what. 

Example Scenario: Imagine you send an email to your co-parent asking to swap weekends because you have a family wedding to attend. They initially reply with a brief “OK,” but weeks later, they deny ever agreeing or claim they never received your email. Now, you’re stuck in a frustrating loop of accusations, and your solicitor has to spend hours sorting through your email history, trying to piece together what was actually said. This not only wastes time and money but also escalates tension between you and your co-parent. 

With OurFamilyWizard’s secure messaging, every message is automatically time-stamped and stored securely in the app. Messages cannot be edited, deleted or retracted, providing a reliable and verifiable record of your communication. If a disagreement arises, you can easily export the message thread to show exactly what was agreed upon and when. This eliminates confusion and helps prevent costly legal disputes. 

Benefit: Provides a clear, tamper-proof record of communication, reducing misunderstandings, preventing disputes, and saving you legal costs.

2. Keep track of what was said with recorded audio and video calling 

Co-parents and children often need real-time communication, but unrecorded calls can lead to disputes about what was said or agreed.

Example Scenario: It’s your child’s birthday, and they want to talk to the other parent to share the excitement of their special day. However, arranging a call time becomes stressful. Your co-parent accuses you of intentionally blocking contact, while you feel they are being inflexible with your schedule. This spirals into arguments, leaving both of you frustrated and your child caught in the middle. 

With OurFamilyWizard’s audio and video calls, you can avoid this conflict by scheduling the call directly within the app. Both parents can agree on a suitable time, and the call is automatically documented, removing any doubt about whether it took place. You also have control over your availability, allowing you to turn call permissions on or off as needed. This helps you set healthy boundaries while ensuring your child can stay connected with both parents. Plus, having a record of the call prevents disputes over what was said or agreed upon during the conversation. 

Benefit: Creates a safe, documented environment for calls, reducing stress and misunderstandings. Scheduled and recorded calls promote consistency for your child and provide clear evidence if disputes arise.

3. Be conscious of your communication with ToneMeter™ 

Miscommunication can quickly escalate when emotions run high. In the heat of the moment, it's easy to write something you later regret or to use a tone that unintentionally inflames the situation. 

Example Scenario: You’ve just had a frustrating conversation with your co-parent about your child’s school schedule. You feel unheard and upset, so you type a message venting your feelings. Without realizing it, your words sound aggressive or accusatory: “You never listen to me, and you’re always making things difficult!” You hit send, and within minutes, your co-parent replies with an equally defensive or angry message. The disagreement spirals out of control, and now you're locked in another argument, escalating tension and stress. 

With ToneMeter™, this situation can be avoided. As you type your message, ToneMeter™ flags emotionally charged words or phrases, such as “never” or “always,” which are likely to come across as confrontational. It gives you real-time feedback, allowing you to revise your message before you send it. Instead of saying, “You never listen to me,” you might rephrase it to, “I’d appreciate it if we could both listen to each other more.” This simple adjustment helps your message stay respectful and constructive. 

By keeping the tone neutral and productive, you reduce the risk of escalating the conflict. Your communication remains focused on problem-solving rather than blame, which fosters better cooperation and helps you avoid unnecessary legal interventions. 

Benefit: Helps you maintain a respectful tone, prevents misunderstandings, and keeps communication focused on solutions rather than conflict. This reduces tension and provides messages that are court-ready if needed.

4. Never lose track of another drop-off with a shared calendar 

Managing parenting schedules, holidays, and appointments can feel like juggling too many balls. Miscommunication over dates can lead to missed visits, frustration, and conflict between co-parents. 

Example Scenario: It’s the start of the school term, and your child has a packed schedule: sports practice on Wednesdays, a birthday party on Saturday, and a dentist appointment next week. You inform your co-parent verbally or through text, but they forget or misunderstand, leading to missed appointments or your child being unprepared for events. When things go wrong, your child feels disappointed, and you’re left dealing with the fallout. 

With OurFamilyWizard’s shared calendar, you can document all parenting schedules, school events, holidays, and extracurricular activities in one place. Both parents can view and stay updated on these commitments. Need to make a change? Submit a request in the app, and your co-parent can approve or decline it, ensuring clarity and agreement. Notifications and reminders keep everyone informed, making it easier to stay organized and avoid confusion. 

Benefit: Reduces scheduling confusion, promotes consistency, and keeps both parents accountable, creating a more stable and predictable environment for your child.

5. Access and monitor all shared expenses from one place

Disagreements about who paid for what and how expenses should be shared are common sources of conflict during and after divorce. Managing receipts, tracking reimbursements, and staying financially accountable can quickly become frustrating without a clear system in place. 

Example Scenario: Your child needs new football gear for their team, and you cover the £120 cost, expecting your co-parent to reimburse half. You send a text requesting the payment, but weeks go by with no response. When you bring it up again, your co-parent insists they never received your message or questions the cost. Frustration builds, and an argument ensues, creating tension and stress for both of you. Or, taking another common situation, you might agree verbally to split the costs for school trips, extracurricular activities and medical expenses. However, as time goes on, keeping track of who owes what becomes chaotic, with receipts getting lost or forgotten. Disagreements arise, and what should have been a simple reimbursement turns into a heated conflict. 

With OurFamilyWizard’s Expense Log, you can accurately document every shared expense, upload receipts as proof and request reimbursements directly within the app. Each entry is time-stamped, and both parents can see a detailed, trackable record of all payments and outstanding amounts. Notifications ensure no request is overlooked, and you can mark expenses as “paid” once they’re settled. This level of transparency reduces the likelihood of disputes and helps both parents stay financially accountable. 

Benefit: Keeps financial disputes transparent, minimises conflict over shared costs, and ensures both parents can easily track, manage and settle expenses.

6. Remember all the important details

Important information about your child—medical records, school schedules, emergency contacts and more—should always be easily accessible to both parents. However, after separation, keeping this information organised and readily available can be a challenge, leading to unnecessary stress and misunderstandings. 

Example Scenario: Your child has a school trip coming up, and the school requires medical consent forms, allergy information and emergency contacts. You assume your co-parent has all the necessary details, but at the last minute, you discover they’ve lost or forgotten some of the information. This results in frantic calls, stress and potential delays or cancellations. 

With OurFamilyWizard’s Info Bank, both parents have a centralized hub to store and access essential information such as medical histories, insurance policies, emergency contacts, school schedules, clothing sizes, and more. Instead of relying on fragmented texts, emails or paper documents, everything is organised, up-to-date, and available at your fingertips. Need to share new details? Upload them to the Info Bank, and your co-parent is instantly informed. This feature helps ensure that both parents are empowered to handle day-to-day responsibilities, make timely decisions and respond quickly in emergencies. It also reduces reliance on last-minute communication, which can often lead to frustration and conflict. 

Benefit: Eliminates frantic searching, keeps essential details organised and accessible, and empowers both parents to make timely and informed decisions for their child’s well-being.

7. Keep yourself and your co-parent accountable 

Sometimes, you need to document events or verify that a handover happened without getting into a dispute. Accurate records help protect you from misunderstandings and create a clear timeline of important moments. 

Example Scenario: It’s your weekend with your child, and you agree to meet your co-parent at a neutral location for the handover. You arrive on time, but your co-parent is late, and later they insist that you were the one who delayed the exchange. This leads to an argument and unnecessary stress. Alternatively, there may be changes in your child’s routine or behaviour that you need to note, such as a missed homework assignment or an illness, but verbal updates get forgotten or misinterpreted. 

With OurFamilyWizard’s Check-In tool, you can verify your presence at the agreed location and time using a GPS-stamped record. This provides irrefutable proof of your punctuality, helping you avoid arguments over handovers. Additionally, the Journal allows you to document observations, milestones or last-minute changes, complete with time and date stamps. Whether it’s noting your child’s excitement about a school project or recording concerns about a missed activity, these entries create a reliable timeline that both parents can refer to. This fosters transparency and reduces the potential for misunderstandings. 

Benefit: Provides verifiable records of handovers and important events, reducing disputes and promoting transparency, accountability and trust in co-parenting.

Start using OurFamilyWizard today 

For just £107.99 per year—less than the cost of most monthly streaming subscriptions—OurFamilyWizard helps you reduce conflict, stay organised and ease the stress of co-parenting. Fee waivers are available if you're eligible for legal aid or other assistance. Click the following link to view current plans and pricing.