I am shocked that they aren't asking this every single time. Security sucks.

I have a different last name than my kids, and I have never been asked for the notarized note, but it would totally suck to have to show it and not have it. I would do it just in case. Your bank probably has a notary public for free.

We have traveled between US and UK, Spain, France and other places many times with only one parent and never been asked for any kind of affidavit or notarized letter.

Anonymous wrote:I used to have my husband update the original notarized letter by signing his name again with the date of the new trip.

Signing and dating after a notary date destroys the validity of the document.

I used to have my husband update the original notarized letter by signing his name again with the date of the new trip.

I have travelled to the UK and Australia 6 times with kids. I carry their birth certificates but have only been asked for it once or twice. You need to consider which countries you are traveling to (e.g. it is pretty much mandatory to carry a notarized note in many Latin American countries).

It's a piece of paper. Take it.

My gf was stopped for questioning in Germany while she was waiting for another flight. They demanded a birth certificate and a certified note from the father. She had only the birth certificate. They let her go but were very mean

I have travelled internationally with my kids about twice a year for the past 11 years, probably half of the time without my DH. When the kids were young, I used to carry their birth certificates to prove I was their mother (they have their dad's last name and are mixed-race), but I have never even been questioned a single time. Now I don't take anything with me.

I guess that it is better to have some documentation with you, but chances are very high that you will not use it.

Better safe than sorry.

I am a single parent with sole legal and physical custody. I have never been asked for any paper work (other than our passports). Lot's of kids travel with just one parent. I never thought about it.

That said I am now thinking I should make a copy of the custody papers for travel.

I just got back from Europe. I had the affidavit from DH, but no one asked for it. I always take it with me. The only time I've needed it is to come back to the US from Canada. That was, of course, the only time I needed it.

You should still carry the note. You'll need it at immigration points during your time out of the country as well as when you're coming back in.

If he brings us to the airport when we check in and has identification, is that sufficient? Or do we still need a notarized note for me to be able to get on the flight with the kids without him? Thanks!