Up and running in 10 minutes
Follow these six steps to get your family fully set up on CustodyTrac.
Create your account
Sign up with your email address and choose a password. It takes less than 2 minutes. CustodyTrac is completely free — no credit card, no subscription.
- Use an email address you check regularly — notifications go here
- Your name will be visible to your co-parent
Invite your co-parent
From your dashboard, go to Settings → Family and send an email invite to your co-parent. They'll receive a link to join your shared family space.
- The invite link expires after 7 days — resend if needed
- Your co-parent will need to create their own account
Set up your custody schedule
During onboarding, you'll define your base custody schedule — which days belong to which parent. CustodyTrac will populate your calendar automatically.
- You can always adjust the schedule later in Settings
- Holidays and school breaks can be added as special events
Try a swap request
Need to swap a custody day? Go to Swap Requests and select the dates you'd like to exchange. Your co-parent will be notified and can approve or decline.
- Add a note explaining why you need the swap
- All swap history is saved for your records
Log your first expense
Head to Expenses and log a shared cost — school supplies, medical bills, activity fees. CustodyTrac tracks who paid and calculates each parent's share.
- You can attach a receipt photo for documentation
- Request reimbursement directly through the app
Enable notifications
Make sure email notifications are enabled so you never miss a swap request, expense update, or calendar change from your co-parent.
- Check your spam folder if you don't see our emails
- You can manage notification preferences in Settings
Tips for success
From families who've been using CustodyTrac for a while.
Keep it factual
CustodyTrac works best as a neutral record-keeper. Use notes and messages to communicate logistics, not emotions.
Log expenses promptly
The sooner you log a shared expense, the less likely it is to become a source of conflict. Make it a habit.
Use the calendar as your source of truth
Both parents should refer to the CustodyTrac calendar rather than relying on memory or text messages.
Respond to swap requests quickly
Your co-parent may need to make plans. A quick response — even a decline — is more helpful than silence.
Ready to get started?
Create your free account and invite your co-parent today.