What form do I need signed from my ex to sail with my daughter

[vicnmickey]

I know I need a form or letter from my ex giving the ok for my daughter to sail out of the country with me. My question is, does it need to be certified or can it just be a simple letter with his signature?


Thanx, trying to get all my ducks in a row. We have 2 months left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jfis1020]

Thanks for posting this............I too need this info. I had totally forgotten to do this myself!

 

[mcnuss]

If you are the child's parent, and you have her passport or BC, and you have proper custody of her for the duration of the cruise, I do not believe you need any kind of documentation. If your divorce decree or custody order requires it, that's a different story of course.

I have taken my daughter out of the country alone, and it's not like anyone at the border asked me if I was divorced so how would they know that I needed such a document..?

If you feel you should have something in writing, have your lawyer draft some kind of a doc and get it notarized. Most attorneys will have a notary in their office.

Good luck and happy cruising.

 

[kajohn]

I would call and check with DCL on this. The form that is included with the documents that needs to be notorized is for children sailing without a parent.

When I called to see if I needed to have that formed filled out for my husband and I to take his son, who he does not have physical custody of, they said as long as he was a parent, it wasn't a problem, we didn't have to have anything signed by his mother. Of course she knew we were going, she packed his bag, and supplied the birth certificate!

 

[CRB#33]

I have full physical custody with no limitations in my court documents about permission from him to take my children anywhere.

On our June, 2002 cruise, I never needed to supply any kind of documents other than their Birth Certs, my Birth Cert and Drivers License.

We even have different last names.

It was never an issue.

 

[bahama97]

I am glad to hear this. THanks for the info!

 

[vicnmickey]

I love this board!!! You answer all of my questions so quickly. I guess I don't need anything. My ex is aware of our vacation, so I believe we are covered.

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

Whenver my stedaughter travels out of the country with her Mom and Stepdad they need a NOTARIZRD LETTER from my DH oking the travel. It must include the dates of travel and destinations and acknowledge he is ok and aware of this travel.

This has been when she has traveled to Mexico upteen times and Europe.

Make sure to have this letter.

 

[mrsltg]

This is a very good thread!

I would double check, and even triple check because DH and I just went on a cruise and we needed to get passports for DH and DD. We needed to get the passports on short order, so both of us had to accompany DD to the passport office and give consent. I don't know if this is new or if it would even have an effect on your cruising, but being that you are removing the child from the country, it would probably be in your best interest to have something notarized saying it's ok.

Have a wonderful cruise!

Erin

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

From my experience my Step Daughter and her Mom and Ste Dad travel a lot because her Step Dad is a pilot and her Mom a Flight Attendant. She does have a passport because of their extensive travel but I do know 100% that the letter from the ex is needed needs to be NOTARIZED and needs to specify where the travel is too with DATES. The Mexican government is very particular about those issues.

Good luck!

 

[miksicnarf]

I think it depends on the country(s) you're visiting. I know it's required by Mexico (although I brought a letter and was never asked to show it--better to have and not need, though!). The letter has to be notarized. Here's a copy of the form I used:

I, (father's name), male of legal age, citizen of the United States of America, birth certificate #________ issued by the State of _____, hereby grant my natural minor child, (child's name), with County of (county) (state) birth certificate #_______, permission and authorization to leave the United States of America and enter Mexico with his/her natural mother, (mother's full name including maiden name), birth certificate #_______ issued by the State of _______. This trip is expected in (month/year), and this permission and authorization is effective from now until the date of this trip.

Happy cruising!

 

[tecdavidt]

I have never had a letter nor has my husband who also has sole custody of his son. Call your attorney on this one. A divorce decree may state that a letter is mandatory. My decree does not demand a letter of approval from my ex on anything I do with our two sons. I have custodial custody. If others are saying it is required then that would indicate it was in their decree or possible their state has a law requiring it. Iowa does not have such a law. Having your papers showing you are the custodial parent should be all you need. We have traveled many many times and we were never questioned, even our cruise to Mexico we were never questioned. My last name does not match my sons.

Now my ex knew when we traveled and where but no letter was signed by him. My husbands ex never knew because she cut off contact between her and the child a long time ago at her choice. Again, talk to your attorney on this one. Every case is different. Kathy

 

[sandee]

Why would anyone even question if you're divorced or not? I know you do need form if you're traveling with a minor child who isn't your own, but I have taken my adult divorced daughter and my young granddtr. to Europe, Mexico, Canada and Caribbean several times and DD never had to show anything from Maggie's dad. With all the things that we have to remember when traveling this is one less thing to worry about. Have a wonderful trip.

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

My guess would be different last names (i.e. a remarried mother) or the mother and child traveling with a adult male???

 

[sandee]

yes, you're right. My DD and DGr.D have different last names. At customs in Europe DD was asked "is this your daughter"? when he looked at DGrD's passport. DD said yes and that was it. She didn't mention divorce and neither did he. I guess if a letter would keep someone from worrying that their trip might be messed up there's no harm in getting one. I also haven't traveled since code orange went into effect - maybe they're stricter.
I was wondering what part of Mexico required letter? I've been to Acapulco with DD and DGD and we all just used our passports. Is this a new law? It has been about 2 since we were there. See, you learn all kinds of things from these boards. Will remember to get lawyer to draw up letter for DD's ex if we do Mexico again.

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

I know when my Step Daughter went to Mexico with her Mom and Step Dad last May a letter was needed and she has already requested aanother for this year. I agree that if you have to take your divorce decree that may spell out custoday I just don't know except that in our case we have joint custody and have to provide a letter.

Good luck!

 

[FredS]

But my question can only be answered by someone with direct information regarding a Disney cruise taken by one parent, traveling with their own child(ren), without the other legal parent.

Did you have to show any written permission/documentation that you were allowed to travel with the child(ren)? (Whether a divorce decree showing custody or any type of statement from the other parent that travel was approved.)

My children have passports, and I feel comfortable based on what I have heard from the travel agent that nothing else will be needed for them. My thought is that if no one has ever had to show such documents, then I will not worry at all. So far, some discussion about "better safe than sorry" but I don't think anyone has actually had to have such "permission" for a Disney cruise...........

 

[FredS]

Originally posted by buzz&woody'smom
I know when my Step Daughter went to Mexico with her Mom and Step Dad last May a letter was needed and she has already requested aanother for this year. I agree that if you have to take your divorce decree that may spell out custoday I just don't know except that in our case we have joint custody and have to provide a letter.

Good luck!

So if I understand correctly this was your husband's daughter, and his ex got a letter from him? I wonder if she did it in an abundance of caution (like many of us would if there was a good relationship) but it was not actually needed??

My children traveled with me before I was divorced (but who knew?) and my daughter traveled to Europe last year with a group (neither parent) and we have never had this be an issue at all. In no instance did my ex sign anything indicating approval.

 

[miksicnarf]

Just want to try and clarify what's required when traveling to Mexico. This is a requirement of the Mexican government, and has nothing to do with divorce or custody or any U.S. laws. From the Mexico Tourism Board:

"In Mexico, like many other countries, any person under the age of 18 is considered a minor. Very strict regulations govern travel by minors into Mexico. For example, if traveling alone, the minor must have a notarized consent form signed by both parents. If traveling with only one parent, the minor must have a notarized letter of consent signed by the parent not traveling."

Note that the above is true whether or not the parents are divorced, and whether or not one has sole custody. If you travel with a minor child without both of his/her parents, you need a letter. You may never be asked to produce it, but as I said before, it's better to have and not need than to need and not have!

 

[FredS]

My question, again, is what has actually been required when boarding a Disney cruise. If no one has ever been asked for such documentation AND my travel agent AND DCL both indicate that it is not necessary then I am not going to open that can of worms with my ex.