Going on holiday, different surnames

[MikeL1993]

Me and my girlfriend are taking our son on his first holiday in a few weeks. As we are not yet married my girlfriend doesn't have my surname but my son does have the same surname as me.

I know there are certain rules regarding checking parental consent for taking children on holiday when parents aren't together but in this scenario will we need to take a copy of our son's birth certificate to prove that my girlfriend is his mum?

No you won’t.

Not if you are all travelling together.

No. Will be fine. Take a photocopy if you feel anxious about it. As they get older, I noticed my DC get asked, what’s your name? Who are you going on holiday with? Etc. I understand your thinking though. I am divorced from my DCs dad. I have the same name as my children. Even so, I get him to sign a consent to travel form every time though, just in case. I also have a digital copy of the paperwork we have in place around holidays and going abroad etc, again, just in case, however, in 10 years and multiple holidays, I’ve never had to produce them. I still take them, just in case.

Nothing will happen on arrival in Spain or France, or several other countries where it's standard for a woman to keep her maiden name upon marriage. And not many people with British passports kidnap a child who also has a British passport and return to the UK with said child. You'll be absolutely fine.