Single parent/custody question

[bairdbeth]

Received my documents in the mail today! I saw the one page for children not traveling with their parent. I have legal and physical custody of my DD. Do I have to have her Daddy sign something or am I okay with a copy of our settlement agreement? I never thought about it before?! Thanks!

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

You shouldn't need her father to sign anything, but it wouldn't hurt to have the settlement/custody papers with you just in case. DW took her custody papers for DD last year and they never asked any questions but better safe than sorry.

 

[ivanova]

when we travelled last November (4 night on the Wonder) we had several families in our group ... one had joint custody with her ex so she needed a notarized letter from him saying it was ok with him for her to take their daughter out of the country (he also went with them to get a passport for their daughter) ... another of our group had sole custody of her daughter, so she just brought along the official court documents indicating she was the sole custodial parent, didn't need anything signed by her ex.

 

[CoMickey]

Originally posted by ivanova
(he also went with them to get a passport for their daughter) ...

Do you know if he had to go with them to get the passport or did he just want to go? I am taking my daughter on the FL-CA cruise and we have joint custody and her dad lives in Phoenix and I live in Denver. Wondering how that works?

Thanks,
Vicki

 

[ivanova]

according to the State Dept website, if he is not there in person I think you need a notarized letter from him giving his permission for her to get a passport. Your daughter will also need to go with you for her passport ... they won't issue it to you otherwise.

 

[CoMickey]

Originally posted by ivanova
according to the State Dept website, if he is not there in person I think you need a notarized letter from him giving his permission for her to get a passport.

Thank you so much for the information!

 

[ivanova]

here's some info from the website:

1. Both parents must appear together and sign or


2. One parent appears, signs, and submits second parent's Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 14, Form DS-3053 authorizing passport issuance for the child or

3. One parents appears, signs, and submits primary evidence of sole authority to apply (such as one of the following):

Child’s certified U.S. or foreign birth certificate (with translation, if necessary) listing only applying parent; or
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) or Certification of Birth Abroad (Form DS-1350) listing only applying parent; or
Court order granting sole custody to the applying parent (unless child’s travel is restricted by that order); or
Adoption decree (if applying parents is sole adopting parent); or
Court order specifically permitting applying parent’s or guardian’s travel with the child; or
Judicial declaration of incompetence of non-applying parent; or
Death certificate of non-applying parent.
If none of the above documentation is available, the applying parent/guardian should submit Form DS-3053: Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to a Minor Under Age 14.

Here's the link: http://travel.state.gov/specialreq.html

 

[bairdbeth]

Thanks! I will take the settlement agreement just in case. Now I can really do the document dance!

 

[mb2456]

Hi,
Saw this thread and thought I could add my two cents worth. I'm traveling in July with my two daughters and as was explained earlier, you will need the other parent's permission to take them out of the country. Passports for a child under 14 need permission from the other parent (not notarized). My sixteen year old I didn't need it. My eleven year old I did. Both now have passports.

However, you will need a note that is notarized to take them out of the country. This link should take you to a form that will work...

http://www.all-travel.com/form_minor.html

I'll be bringing a copy of my divorce settlement as well to show our joint custody.

Good luck.

 

[JJsmama]

I think you do need a form from her father. Years ago, my parents were divorced and I was a teenager and my mother still needed a letter from my father saying she could take me out of the country for vacation.


My step brother's wife died this year and he will have to take her death certificate to cruise with his young daughter.

 

[jrydberg]

I am divorced with primary custody of my 5 year old daughter. Got a passport for her last year and had to have my ex wife sign a document saying she approved of her daughter getting a passport. As I recall, it didn't need to be notarized, just signed and dated.

As for the cruise, I had no problems on the 5/1 cruise with my daughter. They didn't ask me for anything. Then again, I wonder if they would ask if the child had a different last name from the parent.

Custody papers will not be sufficient if they do require documentation. Custody papers do not give permission to take the child out of the country. A passport does (since obviously the other parent had to sign something saying it's ok). If your daughter has a different last name than you and it wouldn't be a big deal, I'd get her dad to sign something (write it up for him and just have him sign) laying it out specifically. If that would be a big deal, I'd ask DCL.

 

[CoMickey]

Thanks for all of the great information.

My daughter is 15 now and will turn 16 while we are on the cruise. I don't think her dad will have a problem signing anything so I will have him sign a letter oking the passport and the notorized letter to take her out of the country just in case.

You all have been so helpful!

Vicki

 

[gottaluvdisney]

Disney Cruise Line does not require a single parent or divorced parent to provide documentation from the other parent.

Now, if you feel the need to carry documentation with you regarding custody, etc. that is up to you.

All DCL requires is that every US citizen to have proof of citizenship - passport or birth certificate.(photo id for also for adts)

There is a form in the documents for minors traveling without a parent or legal guardian. This is used if a minor is traveling with grandma or friends, etc.

 

[ciadriamom]

I traveled last year with both my daughters aged 12 and 5. I'm divorced and my youngest daughter's last name is different than mine,. I didn't need any letters or notarized affidavits to travel with the girls. Granted I had my divorce decree with me, but I was never asked. The birth certificates both carry my name, I'm not sure if that's why I wasn't asked or if they didn't check thoroughly.

 

[bairdbeth]

Okay, I guess I will get a notarized note just in case. My ex and I are much more amicable apart than together so it should not be a big deal. Better safe than sorry!Thanks for all the replies!

 

[aprilgail2]

I traveled alone with my 4 year old, didn't need anything signed from anyone...my friend was traveling alone with her 15 year old (her father died) and wasn't asked for anything either.

 

[IrishCowboy]

Our family has cruised 6 times on DCL. We've never needed or been asked for any documentation for my step-daughter.

 

[Memaw2Wm]

Originally posted by gottaluvdisney
Disney Cruise Line does not require a single parent or divorced parent to provide documentation from the other parent.

Now, if you feel the need to carry documentation with you regarding custody, etc. that is up to you.

All DCL requires is that every US citizen to have proof of citizenship - passport or birth certificate.(photo id for also for adts)

There is a form in the documents for minors traveling without a parent or legal guardian. This is used if a minor is traveling with grandma or friends, etc.

I just removed my DIL from our ressies and was told by the DCL rep that I'd need a notarized letter from DIL saying it was okay for my DS to take my grandson on the cruise ... so I'd say better safe than sorry and get a notarized letter from the non-cruising parent.

And I'd get "certified" copies of any divorce/settlement papers from the courthouse ... again better to be safe than sory.

 

[ivanova]

Originally posted by IrishCowboy
Our family has cruised 6 times on DCL. We've never needed or been asked for any documentation for my step-daughter.

But the one time they ask for it you'd be sunk if you didn't have the paperwork - and upset if they didn't let your step daughter board. It's much better to be prepared for the "worst" than assume it hasn't happened before, it won't happen in the future.

 

[Ladyhawke10]

I have a passport for my son. Is that sufficient for DCL? I will be traveling w/ my 5 year old. We are going on the Western Caribbean. I really don't want to go through the hassle of getting anything notarized by his dad who is not involved in any way with us. Wouldn't the passport be sufficient?