Common questions
Getting started
Do I need the other parent to say yes before I sign up?
No. You can create an account and start using CommonGround on your own.
Does the other parent have to join?
No. A shared calendar and messages do need both of you, but everything else works on your own.
What do I need to sign up?
An email address. The app then asks for some details about you, such as your name, and your children's names and birthdays. Our Privacy Policy lists everything we collect.
Can I add more than one child?
Yes. Everything is sorted by child, so nothing gets mixed up.
What if I have children with more than one person?
At the moment an account is set up around one co‑parenting arrangement. If you're co‑parenting with more than one person, get in touch and we'll help you set it up.
I didn't get my sign-in code.
Check your spam folder and that the email address is correct. Codes expire after a short time; request a new one from the sign-in screen.
How do I invite my co-parent?
Go to Settings > Linked co-parent and invite them by email. They can also join with your family's invitation code.
Using the app
Can I change the calendar without asking the other parent?
Yes. You can both add things and change things. Every change is dated, so it's clear what changed and when.
Can the other parent tell when I've read a message?
Yes — messages show a read mark once you've opened them, the same as most messaging apps. What they can't see is when you were last in the app. There's no "last online" anywhere in CommonGround.
Can I delete a message I've sent?
No. Once a message is sent, neither of you can edit it or delete it. That's deliberate — it's what makes the record worth something if it's ever needed. Take a breath before you send.
Can the other parent see my private space?
No. Your private space is yours alone.
Can I use CommonGround on more than one phone?
Yes. Just sign in with the same account.
Can I use it on a computer?
Not yet — CommonGround is a phone app for now, on iPhone and Android. A browser version for solicitors and mediators is being worked on.
How do I report a message or a user?
Email us at support@commongroundparenting.co.uk with the family space and the approximate date and time. We review reports within 24 hours.
Downloads and bringing in your solicitor
What's in the PDF I can download?
Whatever you tick for the dates you choose: messages, calendar entries, and a log of documents added — each one showing the date and time it was saved.
Is the PDF edited in any way?
No. It comes straight out of the app. The messages in it are the messages in your chat, word for word and in order, each showing the date and time it was saved. Nothing is reworded, reordered or left out, by you, by the other parent or by us.
Does the other parent know when I download something?
No. Making a PDF is private to you. It doesn't notify them and it doesn't change anything in either of your accounts.
How do I give my solicitor access?
From inside the app. You choose what they can see, and you can shut it off at any time.
Can I stop my solicitor seeing things later?
Yes, straight away, and you don't have to give a reason.
Can CommonGround give me legal advice?
No. We're not a law firm. Speak to a solicitor or mediator about your situation.
Your account and payments
How do I cancel Pro?
Subscriptions are managed by Apple or Google. On iPhone, go to Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions. On Android, open Google Play > Profile > Payments & subscriptions. Deleting the app or your account does not cancel a subscription.
What happens to my information if I cancel?
It stays exactly where it is. Your account just goes back to the free plan.
How do I delete my account?
In the app, go to Settings > Account and security > Delete account. Our account deletion page explains what's deleted and what stays with your family.
How do I get a copy of everything I've put in?
You can download it from the app. Or email us and we'll send it within one month. That's your right under UK privacy law.
How do I restore my purchase on a new phone?
Sign in, open the subscription screen and tap Restore purchases.
Can't find your question? Contact support →