Ex Boyfriend

[MummyTaylor97]

Hello I put a post on yesterday about my ex boyfriend too. There has been domestic violence involved since my son was little, I left him and we tried mediation since. He's now tried mediation since, I have since messaged and asked if there's any chance he can sign my sons passport as I have booked a holiday for his 3rd birthday. He's refusing, what can I do about this?

OP on a separate issue, it's not recommended that you have mediation if there's a history of domestic violence. Please contact Women's Aid and get some advice on that.

I had the exact same scenario a few years ago. I had to get a court order. It stands until my DC is 18 but still, a bitter 1k to pay out just to take my DC away for a few days.

Oh and a residence order, as it was then, wasn't applicable as there was no argument over custody. It is a specific issue order you need. Unless of course there is an argument over custody.

If both parents have parental responsibility and one goes on holiday with the child but without the other parent (not a major life event!) then no permission required

Wrong. Read the link.

My solicitor advised this

If your solicitor advised that you need a better solicitor. Unless you have a court order stating that the child lives with you, you must get the consent of everyone with PR before taking your child out of the country. As the link I gave says, if you don't have consent you are committing a criminal offence.

I would love to see all these cases where holidays were ruined because a single mother attempted to take her child who is resident with her has been prevented at the airport from travelling.

@prh47bridge

On the gov link I posed it states “major life event” and it’s moving abroad as an example

Op please start a thread warning unmarried women to give their dc their surname....

From the governement website
*You must get the permission of everyone with parental responsibility for a child or from a court before taking the child abroad.

Taking a child abroad without permission is child abduction.

You automatically have parental responsibility if you’re the child’s mother, but you still need the permission of anyone else with parental responsibility before you take the child abroad.You can take a child abroad for 28 days without getting permission if a child arrangement order says the child must live with you, unless a court order says you can’t.*

Just in case you haven't checked the link!
And just as prh47bridge has explained!

I have flown
British airways
Virgin Atlantic
EasyJet
Ryanair

All as a single parent with two young children. Not once have I been asked to provide evidence my ex (who has parental responsibility as well) gives permission.

My ex has taken our children long haul 3x back to his own county. On British airways. Again not once asked to provide evidence.

At no point in booking flights or holidays have I EVER come across any reference to being required to bring written permission.

On the gov link I posed it states “major life event” and it’s moving abroad as an example

Indeed, but that is talking generally about what PR means. The page specifically about taking children out of the country for a holiday is clear, as is the law.

And I HAVE been asked for written permission when travelling to America with my children ( and so has my ex when he has been travelling from Central America with them on his own) so you have been lucky! The law is quite clear, unless you have a child arrangement order you need permission!

Not once have I been asked to provide evidence my ex (who has parental responsibility as well) gives permission

Many parents go on holiday without the appropriate permission every year and get away with it, just as many people drive faster than the speed limit every day and get away with it. That doesn't alter the law.

@spanieleyes

Did you have the written permission?

Yes, of course. It's the law!

Mmmmbrekkie please stop confusing what you have done with what the law actually says. You are wrong.

@BollocksToBrexit
If you are going to hell for that I will be there to keep you company as chuckled my way through it all too

I am sure that some people have got away with crimes, such as shoplifting, assault, theft, etc. Doesn't mean to say they were acting within the law.

@prh47Bridge is absolutely right. Please don't post here, @Mmmmbrekkie , claiming that your experience means you now know the law. It's dangerous, as people may actually rely on what you say and have their holidays ruined. Don't confuse your experience going on holiday for my law degree and 26 years of practice.

I would just like to see ONE example where a single parent with parental responsibility travelling abroad with children has been prevented from travelling because they don’t have written permission.

Just ONE!!!

Would you? Me. Does that help?

Mmmbrekkie what is wrong with you? So you weren't asked, maybe nobody is every asked and maybe everybody gets away with it but it doesn't change what the law actually says!!

@CinnabarRed

You were asked. You didn’t have it. They stopped you travelling? Correct? What airline?

Why risk it though? The law says you need written permission so either get it or obtain the court's permision. Why risk being prevented from travelling in the hope that, because you haven't been stopped so far, you won't be in future?

I have been stopped at a foreign airport and refused boarding at check-in (travelling with DCs) as I had left my signed letter from DH in the car. D'oh! Fortunately DH was there at check-in with us, having driven us to the airport. He showed his id, I always travel with their birth certs so had those, and all was well. (And DH nipped out to the parking lot for the letter!)

So, yeah, it happens. And not just to single parents.

What foreign airport?
In any event, we are talking about the UK law

I have just rung BA. I wish I could post the call recording. I have been advised that BA does NOT require any such documentation for a single parent travelling.

I am a single parent, so it’s in my interest I know!

Can anyone hear an annoying buzzing sound?