Parenting plans leaked: what it means and what to do
Risk level: high. Can you change it: no. Found in 1 breaches in this directory.
What this data is
A written arrangement setting out custody, handover times and locations, school details and decision making for children after a separation. It is held by family lawyers, mediation services, co-parenting apps and courts.
The risk on its own
A parenting plan is a timetable of where your children are and who has them. It often names schools, handover points and days of the week, which is physical location data about minors. It can also contain allegations and personal history written for a legal process, not for public reading.
The risk combined with other data
With names and addresses attached it becomes a safety problem, especially where there is a history of family violence. A person barred from contact can learn exactly when and where children change hands. The contents are also material for harassment and for pressure in an ongoing dispute.
How criminals use it
A former partner with a protection order against them learns the school, handover location and times from the leaked plan.
Someone calls the school claiming to be a parent and uses details from the plan to sound authorised.
Allegations written for mediation are shared with family, friends or an employer to shame one parent.
A scammer poses as the family lawyer or mediation service and asks for fees to fix the breach.
What to do now
If there is any family violence history, contact police and your lawyer now and ask whether handover times or locations should change.
Tell the school or childcare centre who is authorised to collect your children and ask them never to confirm details by phone.
Ask the lawyer, mediator or app that held the plan exactly which documents leaked and request a written incident summary.
Change the password on any co-parenting app and turn on two-factor authentication.
Keep any messages that reference leaked details as evidence for the family court.
Confirm any payment request from a lawyer or mediation service by calling their published number.
Frequently asked questions
Should I change our handover arrangements?
If anyone involved poses a safety risk, speak to your lawyer or police about it straight away. Otherwise tell the school and review who can collect the children.
Can the leaked plan be used against me in court?
Its contents were usually already known to both parties. Misuse of the leak, such as harassment, can itself be raised with the court.
Who is responsible for the breach?
The organisation that stored the plan. Ask them in writing what leaked, and consider a complaint to your privacy regulator if the answer is inadequate.
Breaches that exposed this data
Mate1.com: 2016-02-29, 27M accounts, Astrological signs, Dates of birth, Drinking habits, Drug habits, Education levels, Email addresses
Breach data sourced from Have I Been Pwned, used under CC BY 4.0. Additional breach metadata provided by XposedOrNot. DataExposed is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by either.