How to word this? Consent to take child abroad

[Wrybread]

We're planning on going abroad for a few weeks. For one week we'll be in a hotel/apartment but after that we'll be hiring a campervan and travelling around the country.

How do we write the parental consent form (for my ex to sign to say he's happy for use to go abroad with the dc) when we don't know where we'll be staying for the second half of the holiday?

Also the dc have changed their surname by deed poll. Do we need to bring copies, or originals, of their birth certificates and deed polls too?

There's no court order in place and my ex is happy for us to take them.

use this template for the form. I would word it as:

1. Staying for one week at Hotel name in city, country
2. Travelling around country in a motorhome

I'm not too sure about the certificates, sorry x

Thanks

How old do children need to be for these consent forms to no longer be necessary?

If the dc have changed their name to yours (?), why do you need the ex’s consent?

You need consent if ;
The children are under 16 and NOT subject to a court order where you have been named as the resident parent.
If you do have this then you can go abroad for 'up to 28 days' . Without the consent of anyone else with PR .
If you haven't got this - and someone else DOES have PR then you need the letter. It doesn't matter what they are called it what surname they carry- it is required by law.

Many people go every year without this and get away with it. It's a game if chance though.. and if you get caught you can be charged with child abduction. A very very serious charge.

It happened to me a few years ago. Completely random. Imagine , like us you have 3 excited kids at the airport for their holiday- only to have it snatched away because we didn't have a letter.
Please don't risk it !

I hope you don't mind me asking and I know this is slightly different but I am with the dcs dad although not married so kids have diff surname to me. I was planning on going abroad for a short break with the kids and their gran without dad as he's working. Would I need some sort of letter? Thanks

Yes stressed you do. I was behind a mum and child at immigration who were stopped and taken to one side coming into the uk with British passports, apparently because they had different surnames and she had no letter (they said birth or marriage cert also would have been ok). This was two days ago.

Stressed I would do one, although the only times I have used one is when my BIL has taken the kids to Spain in advance of me travelling. I usually travel out with the kids and DH follows, but I haven’t taken letters.

One year DH wasn’t able to get away, BIL and I took all the kids (my 3 and his 2) on a day trip to Morocco. BIL and I, plus all 5 kids have the same surname, so we went through passport control in one group.

Afterwards we realised we should both have get letters from our spouses, (SIL was visiting her sick granny in her home country)

Again - just because you have never been stopped doesn't mean you won't be - and have your holiday ruined. It's the actual law. Like drink driving but never getting caught.. until you are. !