traveling with a toddler on my own - do I really need a consent letter?

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[Post New]09/19/2011 12:56
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Anonymous
I'm traveling with my daughter at the end of this month to visit my mother in Ireland. My husband isn't going to be joining us on this trip, as he has a work trip at the same time. In another thread about traveling with small children, I noticed a link to a site that mentions many countries requiring a letter from the non-traveling parent giving permission for their child to travel. Has anyone who's traveled recently actually done this? I'm happy to do it if it's something we really need, but it's not completely clear that it applies in cases where parents are married/not in a custody dispute. Would love to be sure this is something we really need to do before I add it to my to do list for this week.
[Post New]09/19/2011 13:08
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Anonymous
I did it for mom-baby trip to England, but only because my DD has a different last name than me (I kept my maiden). It wasn't an issue though. Better to be safe than sorry though.
[Post New]09/19/2011 13:12
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I did it for mom-baby trip to England, but only because my DD has a different last name than me (I kept my maiden). It wasn't an issue though. Better to be safe than sorry though.


That's what I'm thinking, better safe than sorry, but was curious if anyone else had done this. Did anyone ask to see the letter you brought with you?
[Post New]09/19/2011 13:24
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Anonymous
It usually applies even if you're married. How would someone know, just from your passport, whether you are married to the other parent? (At least with a US passport. Some countries do record marital information in passports.) Also, parental abductions don't only happen within couples that have already formally separated, so proof of current marital status wouldn't prove much anyway.
I think this is a case of better safe than sorry. It's not like you need to pay lots of money to have a lawyer draft this or something...
[Post New]09/19/2011 13:34
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:It usually applies even if you're married. How would someone know, just from your passport, whether you are married to the other parent? (At least with a US passport. Some countries do record marital information in passports.) Also, parental abductions don't only happen within couples that have already formally separated, so proof of current marital status wouldn't prove much anyway.
I think this is a case of better safe than sorry. It's not like you need to pay lots of money to have a lawyer draft this or something...


I definitely agree, better safe than sorry, just had never heard of this before and wanted to know if it was really something people did. Have drafted a letter based on forms I see online for my husband to get signed and notarized.
[Post New]09/19/2011 15:00
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ThatSmileyFaceGuy
Member Offline
Think of it this way, is it better to take the hour to draft the letter and get it notarized and not need it; or sit on your couch for an hour, not have the letter and then have to scramble to get it at the last minute or even worse be barred from entering the plane.
[Post New]09/19/2011 15:36
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Anonymous
ThatSmileyFaceGuy wrote:Think of it this way, is it better to take the hour to draft the letter and get it notarized and not need it; or sit on your couch for an hour, not have the letter and then have to scramble to get it at the last minute or even worse be barred from entering the plane.


OP here (again - I've replied a few times and not identified myself). I was curious if it was something people really did since I'd never heard of it until I happend to click on a link in another post in this forum. I have drafted a letter and will be getting it signed and notarized this week but was interested to hear if others had heard about/done this and if anyone had actually been asked to show a letter like this.
[Post New]09/19/2011 15:52
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Anonymous
Didn't have this issue since we were flying together (though I'd be another vote for better safe than sorry).

But just an FYI - UPS has notary publics in their office.
[Post New]09/19/2011 16:26
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Anonymous

I did it just last Spring. I'm not sure if anyone ever asked to see it or DC's birth certificate, but I'm glad I had it just in case.

Traveling with a toddler is already a teacup of madness, why add to the worries?

Oh, and bring Benedryl. Just bring it.

[Post New]09/19/2011 21:23
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
I did it just last Spring. I'm not sure if anyone ever asked to see it or DC's birth certificate, but I'm glad I had it just in case.

Traveling with a toddler is already a teacup of madness, why add to the worries?

Oh, and bring Benedryl. Just bring it.


Did you bring your child's birth certificate in addition to a passport?
[Post New]09/19/2011 21:46
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Anonymous
If you cross the border into Canada, they will be very strict, in my experience. While I did bring my late husband's death certificate with me on a couple of trips to Europe (when my kids were younger; they are now in college), I don't believe that I had to show it. I did have to get it out when traveling by train to Canada.
[Post New]09/20/2011 00:04
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Anonymous
OP,

It applies to everyone -- any parent traveling alone. Yes you need to do it! I've shown mine when traveling solo with my child. (Mexico, Costa Rica, etc.)
[Post New]09/20/2011 00:09
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Anonymous
OP,

It's from your husband, can he do it and have it notarized at work?
[Post New]09/20/2011 05:20
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Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
I did it just last Spring. I'm not sure if anyone ever asked to see it or DC's birth certificate, but I'm glad I had it just in case.

Traveling with a toddler is already a teacup of madness, why add to the worries?

Oh, and bring Benedryl. Just bring it.


Did you bring your child's birth certificate in addition to a passport?


Yes. I was informed I had to.

[Post New]09/20/2011 07:59
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Anonymous
OP here - thanks for all the replies, particularly from those who have actually done this (and especially the PP who mentioned bringing their child's birth certificate!). I'll have a letter, her passport, and her birth certificate with me when we travel next week - think that should cover it since she doesn't have any other forms of ID. Grandma better appreciate us coming!
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