a dads permission

[sweet angel]

No, there's nowhere for a parent to sign. I thought it was strange when the woman was giving me instructions, so I'll double check before signing anything.

What she said was on the inside of the cover where the space is for signature, each parent was to sign up the side and then the child would sign on the line when he's 18.

It actually makes no sense because his passport will expire before then anyway, no? He's 13 now.

I'll have to double check.

 

[TheWog]

I signed the passport on the line for my DS6 and he just wrote his name as he can't "sign" his name yet in cursive. It needs to be signed by at least one parent to make it official for younger children. The child can sign depending on age and that will also make it official, but it does need to be signed by someone.

 

[The4OfUs]

Ah, ok then...Perhaps 10 is old enough, as some of the kids who went on this trip with my daughter were that age, and not one of them did that. They got through customs in New Zealand, Australia, and back here into the states.

It must be for the younger kids, or I'm sure there would have been plenty of notice about it from the group that she went with (they were BEYOND thorough - you have never seen such detailed instructions and information in your life, but when you're sending your child literally to the other side of the world, I would have freaked if it was any less), and there was no mention of that anywhere whatsoever.

 

[dizprincess27]

I too am a single mother to an 11 yr old dd. We technically have joint custody with me being the residential parent. I called DCL twice and was told both times that I do not need a letter to take my daughter on a vacation since she's my child and I am the legal parent. I will have her birth certificate with me and that is all. I have to admit that my TA did advise me to get a notarized letter but DCL told me I do not need one and so did the Family Court in our County. I would rather not ask him for permission to take our daughter on a vacation as he's only seen her 2 times in the last 6 months and I am the one who has always made the decisions in her life anyway but I certainly don't want trouble. It's always something huh

 

[Tinkmom]

If you are traveling with your own child, and you have custody, then DCL does not require any sort of "permission" from the other parent at check-in/boarding.

However, if you are traveling with a child OTHER THAN YOUR OWN, there is clearly a page in your travel documents which must be completed and signed by a parent. That is a completely different situation.

People often post "better safe than sorry" comments, but fail to understand that sometimes getting permission presents a huge problem for a custodial parent, e.g., non-custodial parent may not care at all if the child cruises, or may have any right under the custody decree to object, but if they feel like they can throw a monkey wrench in the works then they will.

If permission is not required then it is MUCH better to not have to deal with a non-custodial parent like this. Unfortunately, they are out there.........

 

[dizprincess27]

Well said Tinkmom I am sure that my daughter's father would not ruin her vacation and he's too busy anyway to notice her being gone

 

[Vickibean]

Thank you to everybody that posted on this thread. I have joint legal custody and primary placement of my son, age 4. I am taking him on the Wonder in December. My TA called Disney and was informed that we didn't need a permission letter. To cover myself, I'm having my Ex-husband sign one and have it notarized, just in case.

 

[antmaril]

I am taking my son's girlfriend with us on the Disney Wonder in February. She is 17. Her parents are divorced and her mother has legal custody. She rarely sees her father. Will I be okay if her mother signs the permission form, or will we need to get her dad to sign it too? I took her with me this year to WDW and, of course, I had her mother's permission to travel with us and also to seek emergency medical treatment, if necessary (all notarized). However, we weren't leaving the country, so it wasn't a big deal really. Fortunately, I did not need to use the medical form and, of course, no one asked me about for her parents' permission because weren't leaving the U.S.

Anyway, will I have to hunt down the dad between now and February?

 

[Memaw2Wm]

Originally posted by The4OfUs


My kids both have passports, my daughter used it several times this summer when she went as a student ambassador to Australia and New Zealand with a group of kids - she's 12, my son is 10, and they had to sign the passports themselves, we did not sign them.

Now I have to check them - did we do it wrong? I don't think there is a place for parents to sign, do you sign where they would, or above it??

I have legal guardianship of two of my three grandkids ... they are 7, 9 and 10 ... I got passports for the two I have legal guardianship for and had Christian's parents apply one for him ... all three were mailed to my address. I signed each of the passports ...

"John D. Doe, by Jane D. Doe, legal guardian/grandmother"

This was how I was told to sign my son's passport when he was an infant.

I also got a permission to sail and obtain medical care letter from Christian's mom and had her sign the form that comes with the DCL travel documents. I also took the custody papers for the two grandkids ... AND I was traveling with my kids, the grandkids parents ... better safe than sorry ... AND I was told by a DCL rep that I'd need a permission letter.

That said neither I nor my son (Christian's dad) was asked to produce any documentation ... but better too much documentation than not enough.

If you have sole custody and aren't on friendly terms with the other parent I'd just bring a certified copy of the custody papers under current date.

 

[TheWog]

if you call on Mexico as one of the ports that may pose a problem. That government "can" be very strict in its requirements to verify that you have permission of the non-present parent to remove the child from the U.S. and enter their country.

I understand the concerns of custodial parents of getting the consent, but the potential for a problem is real. I guess it is all in the risk factor you are willing to bear. I would ask the DCL agent you spoke with to send a confirming email stating you do not need a letter, that would be your better safe than sorry leg to stand on.

 

[FredS]

After three cruises with my children who don't share my last name and not one word was said about custody, nor any documentation being requested regarding any permission from my ex, I am comfortable that DCL policy does not require permission from another parent when children are traveling with one parent.

This topic comes up frequently and I don't recall that anyone* has EVER been required by DCL or any port authority on DCL's cruises to have permission from anyone else when traveling with their own child.

'nuff said.

(*edited to note as it relates to American citizens--don't know what is necessary for others to travel to US, etc.)

 

[shezbda]

I am travelling from Bermuda with my daughter and without my husband. I am definitely bringing a notarized "permission" letter from my husband to make sure I can get into the states. I am going to model it after Dave from Marietta? :

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 24, 2004

To Whom it May Concern:

I, John Lewis Smith, give permission to my wife, Mary Louise Jones Smith, to take our sons, Alexander Bruce Smith and Charles Daniel Smith outside the natural boundaries of the United States during the period of October 1 - 10, 2004 inclusive, for the purpose of a cruise on the Disney Cruise Line and all associated ports of call.

Signed,
[signature]


I am going to add in Mexico as one of the ports because I too have heard their immigration can be very strict if the child is not travelling with both parents.

 

[TooPure4u]

antmaril....I had called disney the other day as you can see in my past posts but I too have just decided my sons gf 17 can go with us. Her mother has legal custody but she lives with a lady who happens to be her physical guardian because she is not living home at this time. The mother is all for the trip and is going to sign and get notarized a letter stating she can go. Because she rarely sees her father...we are not speaking a word of the trip to him so that he cant try to stop her.

dizprincess...I to am a single parent but have what they call "shared custody". What that boils down to is that his father has summer visitation (he lives in alaska) and I have the other 9 1/2 months in Jersey. I was told by the TA that I do not have to have permission from his father or a notarized statement unless I feel he would be a problem. As cheap as this man is....I could take this kid to the moon and wouldnt have to worry about his father flying here to stop me. So...I am going to NOT rock the boat by telling him....so I really have nothiing to worry about. I never once was told I needed to have my divorce/custody paperwork with me if my custody was anything less than 100% full. Hope I am right!!!!!

 

[dizprincess27]

TooPure4You . . . that is too funny about the being cheap part and I hear ya loud and clear on that one!! I was never married to my dd's father but we have techincally "joint custody" BUT no formal visitation has ever been initiated and I have her every day for 365 days a year including all holidays unless we verbally make arrangements for her to visit with him. He has a wife and baby now too. I know he would not make any trouble for us going but I am certainly not going to give him any ammunition either to hold above my head and I am not going to ask for his permission to take the child I am with 24/7 to an expensive vacation. It will work out for us. I guess some people would have to get the permission though because their ex would or could make it difficult or interrupt the vacation which would be a nightmare for sure!!! By the way, I live in NJ too

 

[TooPure4u]

dizprincess.....wow its too bad we aren't sailing at the same time but sorry there is NO WAY i am waiting another single day !!!!!! lol. I am in Ocean County near Toms River.....are you close???

 

[sweet angel]

I am! I'm in Forked River.

 

[TooPure4u]

Hello sweet angel....(neighbor), 10 minutes up route 9 lol. Have a great Land/Sea Vacation!!!!

 

[dizprincess27]

TooPure4You - hi again!! I'm from Mt. Laurel, NJ so it's a ways away from you but we do visit in the summer of course That would be nice if we could cruise together but I know you don't want to wait a second more and neither would I. I actually suggested that on the singles thread under the cruise meets section. That DCL do a single parents and kids cruise. That would be sooo cool That way we'd all get to do Palos (sp). Are you planning on eating there? I was going to do a brunch and possibly a dinner if I could find someone in need of a dinner companion. We'll see. I'm only doing 4 nights and it's our first cruise ever so I may end up not going this time. I love talking to people on these boards. Mostly everyone is so friendly and so knowledgeable too. Have a great trip and don't forget to let us know all the details.