Child custody

[jfis1020]

I have custody of my son who is 11. Will we need "permission" from his father to travel on the Mexican cruise? He is the only one with a different last name on our family plans. He is registered in my DH room.

 

[noahsmom]

It can't hurt to get a letter from his father giving you permission to take out of the country. I will be traveling to Canada with my son next week without DH. Customs going into Canada requires a notarized letter stating DH gives me permission to take DS out of the country.

It's a rather sad commentary on society today in my opinion but since it's required I'll take it.

You could contact DCL and ask them if it's required.

 

[aprilgail2]

We traveled with one of the kids having a different last name and we didn't need anything special.

 

[kplatt]

I have recently read that a cruise line or immigration authorities MAY refuse boarding or entry without a legally binding letter from BOTH parents if one parent is leaving the country with a minor child. And it doesn't matter if the parents are married or divorced. I'd certainly contact DCL to ask what they need.

Imagine the nightmare if you're denied boarding on a technicality!!

 

[wdwmom2]

In my docs from DCL, there was a form that I had my exDH sign and notorize giving his "permission", is that is want you want to call it, for our DD (joint custody) to take the cruise and leave the country. DCL never asked for it, but I had it ready!!!!

Hope this helps!!!

 

[Rence]

I have custody of my son who is 11. Will we need "permission" from his father to travel on the Mexican cruise? He is the only one with a different last name on our family plans. He is registered in my DH room.

If you have sole custody, then documentation proving this would be an alternative.

The individuals examining your papers just want to make sure that everyone who has legal authority for the child is aware of the fact that the child is leaving the country and has given permission for this to take place.

If legally you are the sole decision maker for your child you could bring official copies of the documents that prove this. Don't take a photocopy. If you don't have a copy, I believe you can obtain them from the court for a modest fee.

If the father still has parental rights, then you would need to document that fact that he has given permission.

It is true that many people are never asked for this documentation, but you never know what may happen when you travel. Actually it concerns me a bit that they aren't stricter about checking this type of documentation. All it will take is one incident of someone using a cruise as a cover for child abduction for this to change.

 

[neenermom]

On our June 4th WCC, I had a letter from my ex saying it was OK to take DS on the cruise. I had it folded in thirds, with the top third being what you first saw and that was tucked into DS' passport.

On arriving, the DCL guy saw it but didn't say a thing and never unfolded it to read the whole thing or see if it was signed. The customs guy on the way back did unfold it and read it and asked DS a question about his dad's name.

There is a form in your cruise docs that will cover this, but I just made my own letter and my ex sign and notarize it in January (wanted to make sure he had plenty of time to get it done, we know how exes can be ). Some people have reported they never look at the document, but could life get any worse at that particular moment if you were there and denied boarding? Better safe than sorry!

Lorena

 

[SeaSpray]

When we took a trip to Niagara Falls in Canada a few years ago, I got notarized letters from my ex-DHs, just to be on the safe side.

Before our Disney cruise last year, I got each of the kids their own passports, and didn't bother with getting notarized letters. Each of my DSs have a different last name, too. No one raised an eyebrow.

However, I am usually the type to be on the safe side, and I would recommend some sort of notarized letter, just in case.

When we cruise again in 2006, my older DS will be 18 by then, so I'm assuming he won't need any kind of "permission" document. Is this correct? As for younger DS, I will probably get a notarized letter. I don't know why I didn't, for last year's cruise. Fortunately, I didn't have a problem at all.

Actually, now that I think about it, there had to have been a reason WHY I didn't get those notarized letters last year (I'm usually very much the "be prepared" type of person!). I don't know if it was because of something I read in the documents, or if someone at DCL had told me I wouldn't need it.

 

[kcashner]

Suggestion--call DCL for an official explanation of the "rules." I've never had a problem, but you don't want something unexpected at the port.

 

[FredS]

DCL's paperwork asks if you are traveling with a child NOT YOUR OWN. So if you are taking a grandchild, niece, nephew, friend of your child's, etc. you need permission of one of their parents.

I have cruised on DCL four times with my children, who have a different last name. I simply completed my paperwork to indicate that I was not traveling with any children other than my own and they never inquired further.