Single Parents

[KirbKirb]

Have you ever been asked for any type of custody agreement or notarized letter from the non custodial parent giving you permission to travel?

I noticed on the Expedia website it mentioned this but don't see anything on the disney site reguarding this?

I have full physical custody so I don't think it should be a problem.

 

[msmama]

I had my ex write a note that said I had his permission to leave the country with my son (for Canadian cruise) but no one asked for it. I plan to do the same for my upcoming Iceland/Norway, just to be safe. But no, I wasn't asked at all. And I'm fairly certain it says the same thing on the Disney website somewhere, too.

I know he works in the office next to a notary but I can't remember if it was notarized or not. I don't think it was.

 

[tink1970]

The first couple of times I sailed with DD I had her father write (and have notarized) a note but they didn't ask. Now, flying into Canada they did so I was glad I had it for our AK cruise. She has sailed 8 times and we've never needed it to board or disembark.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

US Customs and Border Patrol does not require documentation, but they do have the right to delay your travel if they have a question as to whether you are taking a child out of the country without permission from the absent parent. Usually, this isn't an issue if you are cruising out of the US on either the Caribbean or Bahamas itineraries, but my opinion is it's better to be safe than sorry. If you have sole custody, you can bring your court documents. Otherwise, a signed and notarized letter from the absent parent works.

If you are traveling to Vancouver for an Alaskan cruise, you definitely need to have documentation. Canada is pretty strict about requiring it. I wouldn't travel to Europe without documentation either.

 

[Vijoge]

Even if you have sole custody you generally don't have the right to take your child out of the country without the other parent's permission.

 

[Shanti]

Have you ever been asked for any type of custody agreement or notarized letter from the non custodial parent giving you permission to travel?

I noticed on the Expedia website it mentioned this but don't see anything on the disney site reguarding this?

I have full physical custody so I don't think it should be a problem.

I share custody and got a notarized permission letter for our DCL cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean, but I was not asked for it in either case (I even tried showing it to them, but they had no interest at all.) Next cruise to the Bahamas I might not bother, but I will have it for our Alaska cruise departing from Canada, which has stricter requirements.

 

[jenpink]

I am an adoptive single parent. I have been asked for paperwork saying the other parent allows her to travel even though she has no other parent. They then asked for proof that I was the only parent. Since then I travel with her adoption decree and birth certificate that list me as her only parent. It is a lot to carry around but saves a headache if the need arises

 

[braysmommy]

I'm in the same boat and do the same as Jenpink. I have never had DCL ask for it but like to be prepared just in case. When we drove to Canada wasn't asked for it at border which did surprise me.

 

[kiford]

Always best to have as much paperwork as you think you would need in the absolute worst case. The mother of a friend of mine died a few years ago and she (my friend) took her son to the funeral. Her mother lived in the US and she and her son lived in Canada. The father wasn't travelling with them because he had to work. When they got to the border, the agent wanted to know if she had paperwork from the father saying that she was allowed to take him. She said that she hadn't got said paperwork and he started to give her a hard time. She started crying and her son (about 6 years old at the time) piped up and told the agent that they were going to his grandmother's funeral and it wasn't nice of him to make his mother cry. He let them through. So you just never know when you'll get a difficult person. They are always within their rights to ask for it.

 

[tlprice]

I never thought of this. I kind of figured since her dad had to fill out the paperwork for her to get her passport that was probably permission enough. Since my next 2 cruises leave from other countries, I might bring something just to be safe.

 

[crystalgenette]

I haven't ever used a letter to take the kids to the Caribbean, but we live in Washington State, and you'll definitely want a letter if you're going to Canada. We have been a couple times, they asked for the letter every time we crossed the border (both directions actually) whether it was driving or by ferry. The first time we didn't have it, and they didn't give us a hard time, just asked a few questions then let us through. None of the letters on later trips were notarized, and we had no trouble.

 

[dprincessmom]

So glad I clicked on this link. My husband passed away last year and I would not have thought about needing permission to take our child. I will make certain to bring a copy of the death certificate with us, not only for our cruise but for our trip to Europe next year.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Have you ever been asked for any type of custody agreement or notarized letter from the non custodial parent giving you permission to travel?

I noticed on the Expedia website it mentioned this but don't see anything on the disney site reguarding this?

I have full physical custody so I don't think it should be a problem.

I have sole custody of my children as well. But luckily I have a decent relationship with their father and he loves that I take them on trips. The first trip I got a letter signed from him and brought it. I also brought my divorce papers that said I have sole custody as well as a copy of my divorce certificate. No one ever asked me for it. The next 3 trips I just brought the other stuff but no letter. Still no one asked for anything. (I am Canadian so I have to enter via American Border Guards.) With the way things are going now I am going to get a letter from him before my trip with the kids in October. I don't want to take any chances.

Hopefully you have a good enough relationship that he would be willing to sign a document saying he is aware and gives permission to take the kids out of the country.

ETA: Here is a link to sample documents provided by the Canadian government
https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/children/consent-letter

 

[mandylovesdisney]

I had my ex write a note that said I had his permission to leave the country with my son (for Canadian cruise) but no one asked for it. I plan to do the same for my upcoming Iceland/Norway, just to be safe. But no, I wasn't asked at all. And I'm fairly certain it says the same thing on the Disney website somewhere, too.

I know he works in the office next to a notary but I can't remember if it was notarized or not. I don't think it was.

Yes! Same here. I had it just in case, but was never asked for it. I would definitely get one though because you would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

Not a single parent, but my dh and ds15 drive to Canada every year for a hunting trip. Every time, Border Patrol (on entering Canada) demands (and yes, they DEMAND) a letter from me okaying my dh to be bringing my ds out of the country. It's a little weird to me, because how do they know it's authentic? My dh could've just written a letter himself and signed my name to it - it's not notarized and they don't require it to be. But that's our experience - and again, it's on driving across the border.

 

[Karla Bocaletti]

I'm from Guatemala and Disney didn't ask for anything. I have full permission to travel with my kids and brought it with me, copies and notarized copies but weren't required. However, it all depends on the country you visit I think. Migration authorities may ask for it when you disembark at a specific place. I would get it just to be on the safe side.

 

[For the love of Pooh]

I made sure I had a notarized letter the first couple times I cruised with my kids but nobody ever asked for it. The one time I got held up traveling with my kids was at LAX. We were separated and detained in separate rooms until I guess they determined I wasn't in the process of abducting my kids.

 

[msmama]

Also FYI I don't think Disney would care no matter what - it'd be the customs officials where ever you're traveling.

 

[MeLaNie9]

The 1st time I sailed DCL it was just me and my 2 sons. My DH chose a golf trip instead. I did take a letter but they never asked for it. Last year I took one son and my mom and didn't even think about it. They didn't ask for anything.

 

[Dug720]

If it was me, I'd personally rather be prepared and have a letter that wasn't needed than not have a letter and get detained because it was with that particular agent or on that particular day.