Notarized letter to bring kids without spouse?

[dottieann]

Has anyone who has travelled without their spouse brought (or not brought and needed) a notarized letter saying that it was OK for you to bring the kids out of the country? I needed one years ago travelling by air to Mexico, but hadn't really thought about it cruising to the Bahamas.

[rebeccalouise]

I always carry a notorized letter with me. I am divorced. I also bring the birth certificate, passport and my custody agreement.

 

I have been asked for documents when entering Canada and once when boarding NCL. Disney never asked me for these items. Celebrity never asked me on any of their cruises including TA and Med. cruises. Cunard didn't ask me when boarding a TA.

 

At the airport you won't have any trouble. If your child has a passport- that is all they care about. It is the cruise lines and Mexico and Canada that might take issue with it. But I have flown with both my kids (and they both have different last names than me) to Europe now for the past three years and no one has asked for anything other than the passport.

 

BUT better safe than sorry. Bring the notorized letter and birth certificate since both are easy to obtain.

[Kerry's Girls]

I agree with Rebecca - I always bring documentation because the people asking the questions don't always know exactly what the rules are, and I don't want to be in the right, but miss a flight or boat while we sort things out.

 

Best,

Mia

[Onessa]

In theory, if the kids have a passport -- since both spouses must authorize the passport's issue, you should not need the letter. But in practice, that is not always the case.

 

We were behind a man and his approx 13YO DD at the airport in November. Since this was a commuter line, and since we were transferring to one of the commuter line's partner airlines for an international flight, we actually had to check in with a real-live human being. The family in front of us were also traveling internationally -- the ticket counter agent explained that the family would need a official authorization for the daughter to travel with just the father. He explained that the mother had passed away. While the agent handled the sitatuion very well, she explained that the international airline on which they were to travel had VERY strict requirements and that even if she were able to overlook it (which she explained she was not), that they would have a problem on the return trip. Fortunately the grandmother was able to bring a copy of the mother's death certificate to the airport for the family -- it seemed to work out because the father and the girl were on our flight -- (in their case it was a good thing that they followed the "get to the airport 2hrs in advance for an international flight" guideline!)

 

Was the airline's policy right or wrong? -- I don't know. I don't know where they were flying overseas, maybe the laws in that country are different. Maybe this is some internal rule that the international airline has and it has no basis in law. I just know that if there is even a chance of something going wrong that has the potential of spoiling my trip, I'm going to work to mitigate that chance.

[notentirelynormal]

In theory, if the kids have a passport -- since both spouses must authorize the passport's issue, you should not need the letter. But in practice, that is not always the case.

 

 

Having a passport that both parents signed for really means nothing. Lots can happen in those 5 years between parents and situations. Personally I think its a good thing to do check.

 

 

My brother and his girlfriend both have had to prove the right to travel alone with the kids – even though this was a coastal from Los Angeles to Vancouver. Both were traveling with kids from a divorce. They both brought a notarized letter and their custody papers and had to show them before being allowed to board. Flying to San Juan from LAX my brother had to prove to the airline that he had the right to take his son out of the country and used the same paperwork.

[AllyKat66]

Very interesting. I've never been asked, even when I was still married and traveling w/out my spouse.

What if the kids are from a sperm donor??? LOL Seriously, thats a private matter.

I'll be sure to bring along something just in case next time I travel. Thanks for the heads-up.

[ShelbysMom]

DH and I took an Alaskan cruise originating in Canada with my two stepdaughters. We had a notarized letter signed by DH's ex-wife to authorize their travel outside of the US. The requirement for the letter was clearly spelled out in the documents from the cruise line (Princess).

 

No one asked to see the letter. But we had it with us nonetheless.

 

We will do the same again on our next cruise with them. Just not willing to take any chances.

[rebeccalouise]

Princess does require this information for Alaskan cruises. My documentation was checked twice- once at checkin in Seattle and again when I got off the ship for a port visit in Victoria. They are strict about it. I think it has more to do with parents fleeing to Canada with kids. This probably happens alot.

[sorensesca]

I have travelled several times without my husband to Florida (flight/no cruise) from Canada and have been told to bring and had to provide (once) letter from my DH re it was ok/he was aware i was traveling with kids despite the fact we are married. Its always good to have in case needed if traveling with only 1 parent in my experience.

[MMsteffey]

I highly recommend taking the letter - I always tell people to do so but forgot my own advice and took 12 YO DD to Mexico for two weeks. I was allowed to board the international flight departing the US without question (!!) , but was retained on the return flight by the American Airlines gate agent. She was going to send us to customs and immigration but relented, probably because I remained very calm when she informed me (I knew where my DH was at the moment and was not concerned about immigration reaching him) and she probably noticed that my DH had made all the flight arrangements and his name was all over our AA flight records. Customs and Immigration was very busy that day as it was the day after the London Liquid scare so it is very possible that we would have missed our flight. I agree with previous poster -- maybe wrong, maybe right -- better to not miss your flight.

[gr82cruz]

It is absolutely required for Mexico. I have brought it on past eastern carribean cruises and not needed it. There is a great form you can print out on cruisediva. "Bring an umbrella and it won't rain!!"

[driftingaway2017]

I always bring a letter just in case. I have been asked for the letter when traveling to Mexico, but not for the Eastern Caribbean.

 

If the father is not listed on the birth certificate, which I guess would be the case with a sperm donor, then I think all you need is the birth certificate.

 

I always look at the country specific information on the US State's website, http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html#c, there it lists documents needed for minors to enter the specific country.

 

You would click on the name of the country that you are traveling to, and then click on entry requirements, under entry requirements, it lists requirements for travel for minors.

[crusinmama06]

Here I have this one saved in my computer. I brought this one with me when I cruised without my hubby last November

 

LETTER OF CONSENT TO TRAVEL

I __________________________________________________ _provide my consent for

NAME OF PARENT

my child(ren) ____________________________________________ to travel with

NAME OF CHILD(REN)

________________________________ to ____________________________ from

NAME(S) OF ADULT TRAVEL COMPANION(S) COUNTRY/COUNTRIES

________________________________ to ____________________________ .

DATE DATE

(List specific travel information in the space below such as airline, flight number, cruise line and ship or tour operator.)

__________________________________________________ _________________

__________________________________________________ _________________

__________________________________________________ _________________

Signed____________________________________________ _________________

PARENT'S NAME

Telephone/Contact:__________________________________________ ________

Address:

__________________________________________________ _________________

__________________________________________________ _________________

__________________________________________________ _________________

Signature of Notary:___________________________________________ _______

Notary's Printed Name: ____________________________________________

Notary Seal:

[sunrise&set]

I have always brought a notarized letter when travelling with my DDs and my DSS but have never brought the custody agreement... is that necessary? I have never been asked to show it.

 

Also, we are bringing DD's friend with us on our upcoming cruise... is a letter like this signed by both her parents ok? We'll have her bc or passport, the letter(s) which will include something about permission to seek med treatment in case of emergency, and her insurance card. Anything else? Should the medical treatment be a separate letter?

 

Thanks!

[SelectSys]

Has anyone who has travelled without their spouse brought (or not brought and needed) a notarized letter saying that it was OK for you to bring the kids out of the country? I needed one years ago travelling by air to Mexico, but hadn't really thought about it cruising to the Bahamas.

 

The irony for me in this is that my daughter has travelled internationally as an unescorted minor to visit with family friends. The only thing I filled out was the name of the adult party who was going to pick her up on the other end of her flight.

[frodo63]

Please remember that a parent giving consent for a passport does not imply concent for only one parent to take the child out of the country. With a passport, a child travelling with just one parent will still need a notorized letter from the other parent giving permission for the child to leave the country.

[JenSinMA]

Sunrise&Set said: "...bringing DD's friend with us on our upcoming cruise... is a letter like this signed by both her parents ok? We'll have her bc or passport, the letter(s) which will include something about permission to seek med treatment in case of emergency, and her insurance card. Anything else? Should the medical treatment be a separate letter?"

 

My DD12 was recently the "friend" on another family's cruise. They cruised on Costa and I couldn't find any specific requirements on Costa's website, so I used the sample letter on cruisediva to write the Consent for Minor to Travel. I combined Consent to Travel with Authorization to Order Medical Treatment on one letter. Don't forget to include travel days in the dates for which you give medical authorization in case anything happens en route. Also, I listed every port of call and "any other location at which the Costa Fortuna docks" in case inclement weather caused a change in itinerary. I didn't think to send her medical insurance card, but I think that you're smart to have that, too, in case of any real emergency.

 

I deliberately wrote DD's letter with only one parent's signature line, because my DH is deployed to Iraq and not available to sign. I signed it and had it notarized, and it was sufficient. In fact, I'm not even sure if the other parents even needed to show it, as DD had her passport also.

 

I'm learning that these "requirements" vary greatly by cruiseline, airline, country, port officials, etc, and even the enforcement of stated requirements is hit & miss. Better to be safe than sorry, for sure. My next chore is to try and figure out if a copy of my DH's deployment orders and a copy of my power of attorney for him will suffice in place of the notarized letter so I can cruise with my kids without him. As I said, he's currently in Iraq and I don't how possible it is for him to get something notarized. :confused:

[Seraphine]

Okay - big question here: Does it have to be signed by a notary, or can your solicitor/lawyer do it?

 

I ask as I am travelling from the UK to the US (briefly), then onto Canada, with my two year old son. We will then fly to the US and meet my husband in FLL to go on our cruise. Then my husband will fly to New Zealand for work, and my son and I will fly back to the UK.

 

We have a friend who is a UK solicitor and said she would do it for us if her signature was enough. So does it HAVE to be a notary?

 

Thanks

Dawn

[McDebbie]

book mark for cruise with grandson. did not even think of the medical consent.

[fisherhum]

Okay - big question here: Does it have to be signed by a notary, or can your solicitor/lawyer do it?

 

I ask as I am travelling from the UK to the US (briefly), then onto Canada, with my two year old son. We will then fly to the US and meet my husband in FLL to go on our cruise. Then my husband will fly to New Zealand for work, and my son and I will fly back to the UK.

 

We have a friend who is a UK solicitor and said she would do it for us if her signature was enough. So does it HAVE to be a notary?

 

 

I am from Canada and it can be a lawyer or notary, as the last letter I got was authorized by my friend who is a lawyer. I believe (and I am just guessing ). That generally people refer to having a notary as it is usually easier and cheaper than a lawyer.

[russianmom]

I cruised twice last year with a friend and my son while my husband was unable to join us.

I had a notorized letter from him stating his permission for us to leave the country with the cruise line and travel dates.

It also gave permission for my friend to make medical decisions for myself and/or son.

No one asked us for it but it was peace of mind knowing I had it.

[6rugrats]

I am from Canada and it can be a lawyer or notary, as the last letter I got was authorized by my friend who is a lawyer. I believe (and I am just guessing ). That generally people refer to having a notary as it is usually easier and cheaper than a lawyer.

Note that you are responding to an almost three year old post.

[CruisinIsMyThang]

I think my main concern here is that most of these documents are not that difficult to obtain... Honestly, think about it like this... Your spouse is secretly completely miserable, and decides that he/she hates you now and is going to take off with the children to make your life miserable. The say "Hey, hunny, I'm going to go visit my Mom for a week". In reality they are getting on an international flight or going on a cruise, etc (which I think it's absolutely horrifying that the US allowed that one individual to leave, but made it hard to come back.. ridiculous). They leave the country with your children, there is no consent to travel... they get off in port and never get back on the boat... and you never see your children again. Really????????? Is that worth it to you???????? Just get the documents and stop trying to see how you can get around it!

 

(Not trying to be mean, rude, etc... just feel very strongly about this as I have a friend that this very same thing happened to... Her husband was from the Dominican Republic and she decided that she wanted a divorce, and he didn't... and decided to take the very thing most precious to her in the world.. he took the kids for the weekend, left the country (obviously no travel documentation), and she hasn't seen her children in 5 years)

[Out of Iowa]

If you like to spend money that way, your lawyer/law firm could prepare the letter but your former spouse may not like incurring more billable hours just to have a notary witness his/her signature (which is all the notary is truly doing). Law firms have notary publics on staff (and many lawyers are also notaries) - you'll also find notaries at your bank, HR department, county office buildings, etc.

[njmomof2]

This originally may have been an older post, but the information is still valid.

 

I just had my husband sign a consent to travel letter for my cruise with my sons in April. I called my bank, where I have all of my accounts, and the bank officer said she'd do the notarizing. Easy peasy, no cost.

 

I take a letter like this each time I travel with the boys without their father. I have had to hand one over at the border in Canada and we were questioned quite closely. I don't recall if I was asked for it on either of the cruises we took but it takes no time to create the letter and only a few minutes to get it signed and notarized and into my document folder.

 

Better safe than sorry.

 

As for those who have different circumstances...if there is no father, then none is on the BC and you don't need anything. Widowed, bring the death certificate. Sole custody, bring your custody agreement.