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Co-Parenting Agreement

A co-parenting agreement is for two people who wish to bring a child into the world outside of a romantic relationship — whether through assisted reproduction or naturally. The agreement defines each parent's status, custody schedules, child support and decision-making, and is submitted for court approval after the birth.

Family figurine of parents and child with legal document, fountain pen and toys — Co-Parenting Agreement, Helen Robinsky Tal Law Office

Overview

A co-parenting agreement is designed for two people — and sometimes more — who wish to bring a child into the world and raise the child together, outside of a romantic relationship. The agreement requires clear arrangement on the medical, legal and parental levels alike — from how the child is brought into the world, whether through assisted reproduction or naturally, all the way to arranging visitation schedules, child support, decision-making and expense-sharing throughout the years of raising the child. As a rule, the agreement is submitted for court approval after birth, once the court has examined that its provisions serve the child's best interest. Its precise drafting before the medical process even begins is the foundation upon which parenthood is built — and from which future disputes are avoided.

Key Benefits

What We Deliver

Defining parental status

Explicit arrangement of each parent's legal status — paternity, maternity, guardianship, and rights and obligations arising from the parental relationship.

Mode of bringing the child into the world

Medical and legal arrangements for the conception process — sperm bank, known donor, or natural conception — including required waivers and consents.

Custody schedules and parenting time

Division of the child's time between parents in daily routine, holidays, vacations and special events — tailored to the child's different ages.

Child support and expenses

Calculation of child support, division of unexpected expenses, education, healthcare and leisure costs, and a long-term joint emergency fund.

Decision-making and consent

A mechanism for major decisions in the child's life — education, medical care, religion, place of residence — including a dispute-resolution mechanism.

Court approval and the child's best interest

The process of submitting the agreement for court approval after birth, demonstrating its alignment with the child's best interest, and obtaining the force of a judgment.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a co-parenting agreement and why is it needed?
A co-parenting agreement is signed by two people (and sometimes more) before bringing a child into a shared parenthood outside of a romantic relationship. It's needed because without an agreement — parental status, custody schedules, support and the child's rights are unclear, and every future dispute will be decided by a court without prior documentation of the agreements. A drafted agreement saves years of conflict and ensures the child grows up within a clear, agreed-upon framework.
Who is suited to a co-parenting agreement?
The agreement is relevant to various groups: friend-couples who wish to be parents together without living as a couple, single individuals seeking a parenting partner, same-sex couples who need a donor or surrogate, and sometimes three or more people planning shared parenthood. In every case — the agreement is the tool for ensuring certainty and clarity even before the medical procedure or pregnancy begins.
When is the right time to sign the agreement?
The critical time is before the medical process begins — before assisted reproduction, before choosing a sperm donor, and before starting pregnancy attempts. Once a process has already begun, the balance of power between the parties shifts and disputes may arise that could have been prevented. The agreement is the foundation — parenthood is built from it, so its precise drafting before the medical process even begins is essential.
How does the agreement gain legal force?
The agreement is signed between the parties before the child is brought into the world, but it only gains full force of a judgment after the birth — through submission for approval by the Family Court. The court examines that the agreement's provisions serve the child's best interest, and only then approves it. This approval is critical — it transforms the agreement from a private document into an enforceable judgment.
What should be included in the agreement?
Central components: identity of the parents and their legal status; detail of the mode of bringing the child into the world (assisted reproduction, known/unknown donor, or natural conception); detailed custody schedules according to the child's ages; child support and division of education, medical and leisure expenses; mechanism for major decisions; arrangements for relocation and changing circumstances; and a structured dispute-resolution clause. The more detailed the agreement, the fewer future disputes.
How much does drafting and approving a co-parenting agreement cost?
The cost of drafting ranges from 8,000 to 20,000 NIS plus VAT, depending on complexity (number of parents, mode of bringing the child into the world, additional children from previous relationships, special conditions). Submission for court approval is done after birth and is subject to a separate court fee. Although the cost is not low, it saves tens of thousands of shekels in future disputes — and most importantly, preserves the child's stability.

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