A private custody log, kept by one parent
Write down exchanges, late or missed pickups, child expenses and messages when they happen. When you need it, export a dated PDF timeline. Free, in your browser, no account, and your co-parent does not have to sign up for anything.
What you can record
Exchanges and lateness
Scheduled time, actual time, place and who was there. Minutes late are worked out for you.
Missed or changed time
Cancelled visits, swaps, schedule requests and how they were answered.
Child expenses
Activity fees, medical copays, school costs: amount, date and who paid.
Communication
A short, factual summary of texts, emails and calls about the children.
Child updates
Health, school and wellbeing notes you may need to remember later.
A dated PDF
One file, in date order, with the time each note was recorded and any later edit shown.
Why a one-parent log
Shared co-parenting apps such as OurFamilyWizard and TalkingParents are built around both parents messaging inside the app, and with OurFamilyWizard each parent needs their own paid subscription (current prices compared). That is useful when a court orders it or both parents agree. Many parents just need something simpler first: a calm, private place to write down what happened, without asking the other parent to join anything.
Court self-help guidance points in the same direction. The California courts suggest that if the other parent "is always an hour late to exchanges, you should write down the dates and times," and to keep a record of texts and emails (California Courts Self-Help). Our guide on what to document goes through it.
How privacy works
- The log runs entirely in your browser. Entries are saved in that browser's local storage and are never sent to our server.
- There is no account and no cloud copy. Export a PDF or a backup file to keep a copy somewhere safe.
- If you share a device with your co-parent, anyone using that browser can open the log. Use a device and browser only you use.
- Optional, anonymous usage counts (only after you accept) never include anything you type. See the privacy policy.
Guides
What to document for custody
What to record, how to write it, and what to leave out.
Parallel parenting
How low-contact co-parenting works and what the plan needs to spell out.
High-conflict co-parenting
Communication rules, boundaries and when to get help.
Parenting plan template
A fillable worksheet with the topics state court forms cover.
OurFamilyWizard cost
2026 plan prices next to TalkingParents and AppClose, with sources.
Questions
Is CoParent Diary free?
Yes. The browser custody log and the parenting plan worksheet are free and need no account. We are building an iPhone app; you can join the waitlist.
Where are my entries stored?
Only in the browser you use (its local storage). They are not uploaded to us, so we cannot read, recover or hand them to anyone. Export a PDF or a backup file regularly, because clearing browser data deletes them.
Does my co-parent need to sign up?
No. This is a log kept by one parent. Nothing is sent to the other parent, and they do not need an account or an app.
Will a court accept my log?
We cannot promise that, and no app can. Whether a judge considers notes, and how much weight they get, depends on the court and the rules of evidence in your state. A log made at the time helps you remember dates and details accurately; ask your attorney or court self-help center how to present it.
Can I use it on my phone?
Yes, the log works in a phone browser. Entries stay in that one browser, so use the same phone and browser each time, or move them with the backup file.