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Original poster

Can I be a passport signatory for my husbands child?!

45 replies

selflove · 10/05/2021 13:57

I can definitely be a passport countersignatory, in that my profession is an approved one.

But my husband (separated but legally married) had a baby last week, and his partner wants a passport ASAP so they can bring baby to meet her family. They've asked me to sign the pictures - can I?!

It says:

Who can sign your form and photo
Your countersignatory must:
• have known you (or the adult who signed the form if the passport is for a child under 16) for at least 2 years
• be able to identify you, for example they’re a friend, neighbour or colleague (not just someone who knows you professionally)
• be ‘a person of good standing in their community’ or work in (or be retired from) a recognised professionn_
Who cannot be your countersignatory
You cannot ask someone to countersign your passport if you’re:
• related to them by birth or marriage
• in a relationship with or live at the same address as them

SO obviously I am related to Husband by marriage, but not to his child. But since it says in the case of the child I must have known the adult for 2 years, does the same apply to can't be related to the adult (even though the child is no relation to me).

Anyone know if I'm ok to sign it?!

OP posts:
CadburyCake · 10/05/2021 14:10

You are related to his child, by marriage - they’re akin to your step child. And it’s about your relationship to the adult anyway. I’m fairly sure you can’t.

Fitforforty · 10/05/2021 14:15

No you can’t.

Lochroy · 10/05/2021 14:16

I don't actually know, but I would have thought not...especially if you use your married name. However, it would seem more fool them for trying as they are the ones who will face the delay if it gets rejected.

AllTheCakes · 10/05/2021 14:16

No, of course you can’t.

Hohofortherobbers · 10/05/2021 14:16

Surely the dc would count as family? So no

RickiTarr · 10/05/2021 14:19

No. You’re related to his child “by marriage“ in the same way you’d be related to any older children or nieces/nephews he had “by marriage”. Your marriage to him is the link.

Sorry. Can’t they find anyone else he knows?

toocoldforsno · 10/05/2021 14:22

No, obviously you cannot, as you are related by marriage, you are the stepmother of the child!

meditrina · 10/05/2021 14:24

You would be signing as the person who knows the applicant (the adult, for a child) for two years.

You are related to that adult by marriage.

Therefore you are ineligible

Original poster
selflove · 10/05/2021 14:25

I'm not the child's step mother, surely?! I'll be divorced from my husband in a few months, the child is his with another woman, none of them live with me or ever come into my house, the baby is part of HIS new family, nothing to do with me at all.

But ok, since the divorce hasn't come through and I'm still legally related to (ex)H through marriage still, I can see why everyone is saying no.

I didn't think it was that much of a silly question tbh!

OP posts:
Lochroy · 10/05/2021 14:30

If you are married to the child's father, why on earth do you think you aren't his step mother?

toocoldforsno · 10/05/2021 14:30

Yes, you are. A stepmother is the wife of the father of the child. It doesn't matter that you will soon be his exwife, right now you are the wife and you are the kids stepmother.

CadburyCake · 10/05/2021 14:34

“I'm not the child's step mother, surely“

In a social sense, no - obviously you won’t have a relationship with the child or be involved. But you are currently married to their biological parent - so in a legal/what government departments will be interested in sense I’d argue you are akin to a step parent, yes.

Justforphoto · 10/05/2021 14:37

It's not the relationship to the child but the relationship to the person applying so in this case your stbexH and you are related to him by marriage

SnowdaySewday · 10/05/2021 14:49

With a child you are stating your relationship to the parent, so no you can't.

mumwon · 10/05/2021 14:54

I think you need to contact passport office & ask
Is this a reverse? You seem a little eager to sign?

eurochick · 10/05/2021 14:56

It's there in black and white in your opening post - you can't if you are related to the person by marriage, so no.

dementedpixie · 10/05/2021 14:56

No, they should find someone else to do it. You are too close family wise to do it

Original poster
selflove · 10/05/2021 15:02

Not a reverse, I was keen to help them because his partner is desperate to take the child to visit her family as her brother gets married overseas next month, so they want the passport ASAP. Whilst the profession list is large, his gf hasn't known anyone in the UK more than 2years, so it has to be someone that knows ExH, and there isn't anyone else from the approved profession list who has known him over 2 years and can sign the pictures in person this week. I'll explain to them I can't do it as I'm still related to ExH by marriage, and it's my relationship with him that they're asking for confirmation of, not my relationship to the child. I wouldn't want it to get sent back and delay them further.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 10/05/2021 15:05

It was my neighbour who was a nurse that signed my kids' applications. No neighbours that would suit? Small business owner would count as someone of standing in the community as it doesn't have to just be a person on the list of prefessions

Couldhavebeenme2 · 10/05/2021 15:05

Wow. I wouldn't give my ex the steam off my piss, never mind sign a passport application for his new baby that's been conceived and born whilst you're still married to him.

Get divorced. Tell him to sort his own shit out. You owe him nothing op.

MandalaYogaTapestry · 10/05/2021 15:12

I am with CouldHaveBeenMe

TurquoiseDragon · 10/05/2021 15:39

The list of who can sign is a bit woolly actually. Especially the bit about "person of good standing in the community".

TakeYourFinalPosition · 10/05/2021 15:50

No, you can’t. As everyone has said, it’s your relationship to the adult that matters when it’s a child - and your relationship to the child’s dad is marriage, as he’s your husband.

A neighbour or doctor might do it, if there’s no one else. Or a colleague? But you aren’t eligible to do it for them.

Smartiepants79 · 10/05/2021 15:55

Surely it’s possible to understand that some people might have decent relationships with their ex-husband and therefore be willing to do them a small favour?! That’s going to cost them nothing except 5 minutes of their time?

DurhamDurham · 10/05/2021 16:03

No you can't. You're not impartial and are related.

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