Holiday abroad and absent father.

[MuddyParks]

My daughter is 10 and her father is on her birth certificate. He has been absent for 7 years.

How do I legally arrange being allowed to travel abroad for a holiday, and does anyone know the length of time it takes to get permission through court?

I have no contact information and I don't know where he is working or living.
I also don't know anyone who knows him and he doesn't appear to be on social media.

Is it still possible to get a court order if they can't find him to notify him of the case, or do they have a way of tracing someone by their name and date of birth?

If you have a court order saying your daughter lives with you, you can take her out of the country for up to one month without needing anything further.

If you don't have an order you will either need his consent or a court order. It is possible to get a court order without finding him but you will have to show that you have made reasonable efforts to trace him. The court won't try to trace him for you. There are businesses that will trace him.

There is no court order.

Is there an approved business to contact to qualify as making reasonable effort?