diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ea860b1d9720742d696d8d0d48cb399ba9ef2dfd..58cd56df3225eee536b35a8e0c32f3a6475f3e00 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 ## [Unreleased] ##
 
 ### Added ###
+
 - You can now use `python -m caosadvancedtools.models.parser model_file` to 
   parse and potentially synchronize data models.
 
@@ -14,6 +15,10 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Deprecated ###
 
+- [#36](https://gitlab.com/caosdb/caosdb-advanced-user-tools/-/issues/36)
+  `parent` keyword in yaml datamodel definition (replaced by
+  `inherit_from_{obligatory|recommended|suggested}` keywords).
+
 ### Removed ###
 
 ### Fixed ###
diff --git a/src/caosadvancedtools/models/parser.py b/src/caosadvancedtools/models/parser.py
index 25fe83d9b2a0afc2533fdcd46f72a990348cf4e0..c9b890de570d29e4a013b14ebe4579e956277ed2 100644
--- a/src/caosadvancedtools/models/parser.py
+++ b/src/caosadvancedtools/models/parser.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ import sys
 import yaml
 
 from typing import List
+from warnings import warn
 
 import jsonschema
 import caosdb as db
@@ -519,6 +520,16 @@ class Parser(object):
                     self._inherit(name, prop, db.RECOMMENDED)
                 elif prop_name == "inherit_from_suggested":
                     self._inherit(name, prop, db.SUGGESTED)
+                elif prop_name == "parent":
+                    warn(
+                        DeprecationWarning(
+                            "The `parent` keyword is deprecated and will be "
+                            "removed in a future version.  Use "
+                            "`inherit_from_{obligatory|recommended|suggested}` "
+                            "instead."
+                        )
+                    )
+                    self._inherit(name, prop, db.OBLIGATORY)
 
                 else:
                     raise ValueError("invalid keyword: {}".format(prop_name))
diff --git a/src/doc/yaml_interface.rst b/src/doc/yaml_interface.rst
index f5dea11acc3a23c3d6eb9680e1c3e488c4b43a54..78ff4cdd6fee201c7ebe17977f497b84e9657aa2 100644
--- a/src/doc/yaml_interface.rst
+++ b/src/doc/yaml_interface.rst
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ Keywords
   added as parents, and all Properties with at least the importance ``XXX`` are inherited.  For
   example, ``inherited_from_recommended`` will inherit all Properties of importance ``recommended``
   and ``obligatory``, but not ``suggested``.
-- **parent**: Parent of this entity. (*Deprecated*)
+- **parent**: Parent of this entity. Same as ``inherit_from_obligatory``. (*Deprecated*) 
 
 Usage
 =====
diff --git a/unittests/test_yaml_model_parser.py b/unittests/test_yaml_model_parser.py
index a9f072b754618e38237cbf70e74c7944551f1045..6cdea7922a8503be082e8947edecd7e8c849730b 100644
--- a/unittests/test_yaml_model_parser.py
+++ b/unittests/test_yaml_model_parser.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import unittest
 from datetime import date
 from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
-from pytest import raises
+from pytest import deprecated_call, raises
 
 import caosdb as db
 from caosadvancedtools.models.parser import (TwiceDefinedException,
@@ -474,3 +474,40 @@ F:
 """
     with raises(NotImplementedError):
         entities = parse_model_from_string(model)
+
+
+def test_issue_36():
+    """Test whether the `parent` keyword is deprecated.
+
+    See https://gitlab.com/caosdb/caosdb-advanced-user-tools/-/issues/36.
+
+    """
+    model_string = """
+R1:
+  obligatory_properties:
+    prop1:
+      datatype: TEXT
+R2:
+  obligatory_properties:
+    prop2:
+      datatype: TEXT
+  recommended_properties:
+    prop3:
+      datatype: TEXT
+R3:
+  parent:
+  - R2
+  inherit_from_obligatory:
+  - R1
+"""
+    with deprecated_call():
+        # Check whether this is actually deprecated
+        model = parse_model_from_string(model_string)
+
+    assert "R3" in model
+    r3 = model["R3"]
+    assert isinstance(r3, db.RecordType)
+    for par in ["R1", "R2"]:
+        # Until removal, both do the same
+        assert has_parent(r3, par)
+        assert r3.get_parent(par)._flags["inheritance"] == db.OBLIGATORY