Specific issues order for passport/holiday

[ThisMustBeMyDream]

Hi,
DP's ex has agreed to him taking DSD on holiday abroad this year. We travel in 5 weeks. Mum has all the details etc.
DP asked her for the passport in advance as we need to provide a copy to the travel agent and we would like to make sure it is with our travel documents safely.
She has refused. She says she will hand it over the night before we travel (when she will "allow" him to pick dsd up). Mum has just returned from holiday and has no further travel plans (until the day we return on which she has booked to take dsd back to the exact destination on a 4 hour flight that we have just returned from, but that's another story!!).
They have been to court many times, dsd is 5. Things have been better this last 10 months so he wants to believe her, but she has a long history of being highly unreasonable. Last order was made August 2021. He has equal division of school holidays. There is no order re: passport.
What should DP's current steps be? He would rather not take the legal route, but he may have to if all else fails.

At this stage I would just be making sure you have the copy in time for the travel agent (will she provide a photocopy/photo?) and then take her at her word that she will provide the passport with DSD. If you escalate before the holiday it's unlikely to be resolved in time. She may still refuse to 'release' DSD on the day of the holiday but at least you won't have done anything to increase the likelihood of that happening.

You could then seek the order in good time for the next holiday?

Not a legal answer but even so. I assume there's no way for DSD to avoid 8 hours of unnecessary plane travel by handing her over at the destination?!

She has said she will provide a copy. I assume she will, as she won't want to give DP time to act if she is planning anything.
I said the same to DP re: his dsd not having to fly back, but he pointed out that if her flight was delayed the problems it would cause - of which he can't pay for a new flight for him or accommodation. It would be a logistical nightmare that she would point blank refuse to pay for and DP can't afford to pay for either (my dad is paying for this holiday for us all).

Yes, although equally I can see it causing problems if your flight is delayed on the way home, not that there's anything you can do about that!

If I had to guess, she will refuse to let DSD go with you to the destination, reasoning that she will not be missing out as she'll be going there anyway. Perhaps the passport will be 'missing' when you go to pick her up? Unfortunately I think you will need to let this play out and then deal with it if it does. I would not give her any ammo at this stage. Good luck!

I think DP is going to try the softly softly approach for the rest of this week, then look at court next week if he doesn't get anywhere. I'm just so gutted. I really thought she had realised that life was easier when compromises were reached. Seems not.