Child Theme

Use a child theme when you want to change Corp at code level, for example to add PHP functions or to override a template file. A child theme keeps your changes safe. The changes stay in place when you update Corp. If you change the files of the parent theme, an update removes your changes.

For small CSS changes you do not need a child theme. Use CSS Snippets. For small PHP changes you can use the Code Snippets plugin. See Advanced Customizations.

Install the Starter Child Theme

Download the SiteOrigin Corp starter child theme. It has no changes yet. It has a style.css file for your CSS and a functions.php file for your PHP.

1. Go to AppearanceThemesAdd ThemeUpload Theme.
2. Choose the ZIP file and click Install Now.
3. Click Activate. Keep SiteOrigin Corp installed, because the child theme needs it.

After you switch, open the Customizer and check that your settings, menus and widgets are as they were. WordPress keeps some of these for each theme, so a setting may need to be set again.

Check the Stylesheet Order

The starter child theme loads its style.css after the Corp stylesheet, so your rules win when two rules are equally specific. Child themes made from a download before October 2026 load the child stylesheet first. To fix an older child theme, replace the contents of its functions.php file with this code:

<?php
/**
 * Enqueue the child theme stylesheet after the Corp stylesheet.
 */
function siteorigin_corp_child_scripts() {
	wp_enqueue_style(
		'corp-child',
		get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/style.css',
		array( 'siteorigin-corp-style' ),
		wp_get_theme()->get( 'Version' )
	);
}
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'siteorigin_corp_child_scripts' );

Change a Template File

To change a template, copy the file from the Corp folder to the same place in the child theme folder, for example footer.php. Then edit the copy. WordPress uses the file from the child theme.

For more on child themes, see Creating a Child Theme.