non custodial parent confusion HELP!!

[DisneyNett]

Hi all,

I was reading someone elses post about needing a notarized letter stating it is ok to travel with your child from the parent who is not going.
Well my childs biological father abandoned him 9 years ago and we have not heard from him since and do not know where he is.

I have my childs orginal birth certificate with my name and the biological fathers name, but I am married now and my husband and I changed my childs last name to ours. I have the court approved paper that shows the new last name, and also the new birthcertificate that shows the name change. However the biological fathers name is still on the birthcerficate.

What will I need to do to make sure that we can get on the ship without any problems?? Please help. thank you

 

[TnRobin]

I feel the documents that you just mentioned will be enough. If you want to be 100% sure, just give a quick call to DCL. I am sure they will ease your concerns.

 

[dclwdwlover]

We went on the Wonder in Oct. 2001 - approx. one month after 9-11 & had absolutely no problems.
We are a blended family. My sons have a different last name & although I have custody, I was never asked for my papers - anywhere. I have their original birthcerts, also & that's all I showed.
My husb's dtr had just moved to her mom's that summer, altho he retains custody. We had her list her address as ours & no one questioned anything.
I doubt (& hope not) that you'll have a problem. Based on our exper. I'd say it should be "smooth sailing". Bring your original papers just in case.

 

[Verandah Man]

DisneyNett,

I saw your name on the Unofficial Cruise List and saw that you will be on the Aug. 23-30, 2003 cruise with us. Why not drop by our thread and introduce yourself. Click on the link below:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=320225

 

[DisneyNett]

Thanks for your input on the matter. I was really concerned about that. I have another question, my husband seems to think that we need passports instead of just original birth certificates and I.D.'s. I've been telling him that it should be fine, we were born and raised in California and so are our kids. Is a passport really a neccessity? Also what other documents have to be filled out at the port if any.
Thanks

 

[Gina]

Getting the passport would be a problem, because now they require both parents' permission for a child's passport. I understand the reasoning behind that change, I suppose, but it just makes life even more difficult for single parents with *bleep!* exes.

-gina-

 

[justmestace]

DisneyNett...unless you pay big bucks to get an "expedited" passport, it's too late now to get one. Thay are pretty slow at sending them back. If your birth certificates are originals, and they have the raised seal that you can feel, then you'll be just fine. Take a couple of photo i.d.s, and maybe even your voter registration card for extra measure. It sounds to me also, that you have more than enough proof for your child, not to worry! I have been in the same situation with my daughter for 21 years, and my DH didn't adopt her, nor did we change her name. We've never had a problem with her having a different name than ours, or proving that she's mine.
P.S. Don't you wish we had a Disney ship on our end of the world??