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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

Do I need letter of consent....

19 replies

Lolly68 · 15/04/2008 11:06

.... to take DD on holiday for a week?

I live on my own with DD who is 2 years old. I have booked week in Spain in June and asked her Dad before I did so and he said yes. However, I am worried that when I get to the airport they wont let me take her. We have never married, he is on birth certificate and I have her passport and she has his name (so obviously different to mine). Any advice would be great. Thanks

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PuppyDogTails · 15/04/2008 11:12

I'm no expert, but I think:

He has parental responsibility and therefore he has certain rights.

They won't ask you at the airport, we have travelled all over the place with my stepkids and have never been asked to prove that we have authority to travel with them (although we have always taken a letter of consent just in case).

However, the worst case scenario for you is that he goes to the police and tells them you have abducted your DD and taken her abroad without his consent.

If you have a letter of consent then clearly that's not going to stand up.

All depends really on how likely you think it is that he would do something irrational like that!

HTH

PuppyDogTails · 15/04/2008 11:13

Just to clarify - we have always taken a letter of consent as my stepkids are older and DP doesn't have parental responsibility.

Original poster

Lolly68 · 15/04/2008 14:24

Thanks for replying. At the end of the day he sees her 3 times a month and I have her the rest of the time. Cant believe that I have to ask his permission to do certain things when he is out partying all the time!! Anyway - might ask CAB and see if they know what I have to do just to eb sure.

OP posts:

OverMyDeadBody · 15/04/2008 14:30

Gosh I travel abroad all the time with DS and have never had any problems, it didn't even occur to me to ask the spermdonor his father for his permission and I certianly won't be starting to now.

chocolatespiders · 15/04/2008 14:33

i would say you dont need it....

you have the main part of the parental responsibility, as you ahve residental responsibility of dd.....

please dont worry about the airport...

i hipe you ex doesnt have a history of starting trouble ...

have a great holiday...

Original poster

Lolly68 · 15/04/2008 14:38

No he has no history of starting trouble. I was more worried of the authorities saying that I couldnt leave the country with her. He is too wrapped up in his new girlfriend 15 years his junior to worry about me!!

OP posts:

OverMyDeadBody · 15/04/2008 14:39

Lolly you won't have any problems with the authorities. They won't ask to see a birth certificate anyway so won't know he's on it.

Original poster

Lolly68 · 15/04/2008 14:50

Ok. Thanks for all your help. Was just worried cos of her name being different to mine.

OP posts:

janinlondon · 15/04/2008 14:58

Can I thorw the cat among the pigeons and say that yes, if your surname is different from hers, you will either need a letter of consent from her father (presuming it is his surname) or her birth certificate to prove you are her mother. You are more likely to be challenged on the way back into the UK than on the way out, but I know of cases of challenge going both ways.

scorpio1 · 15/04/2008 14:59

no, its only for holidays of longer than 30 days or something.

janinlondon · 15/04/2008 15:04

Coming back in is a special horror if the authorities challenge. We have had this twice. Nothing to do with how long you are going for or how long you've been away. Honestly. There are legal advisors if you want to verify.

Original poster

Lolly68 · 15/04/2008 15:04

I'm going for 7 days to Marbella to see my mate! What a palava. If he wanted to take her away - would he have to get consent from me?

OP posts:

alittleone2 · 15/04/2008 15:05

Message withdrawn

Original poster

Lolly68 · 15/04/2008 15:05

Janinlondon - would they really question me trying to get back into a country where we both were born? Think maybe I should just get the letter and if I have to use it I will.

OP posts:

OverMyDeadBody · 15/04/2008 15:06

yes lolly it works both ways

OverMyDeadBody · 15/04/2008 15:07

I guess the possibility is there, but I have yet to have anyone question me either when I'm leaving the country with ds when I was returning.

Even when he used to have a different surname to me I never had any probs. Maybe I was just lucky.

janinlondon · 15/04/2008 15:11

Yes. DD was also born in the UK....Get him to sign a letter and make a copy of your borth certificate. Believe me, its easier than spending hours in the holding pens.

janinlondon · 15/04/2008 15:12

Doh. That'll be BIRTH certificate then.

Original poster

Lolly68 · 15/04/2008 15:20

I will do. Thanks once again everyone! Havent posted on here for a while but you always get the answers you need when you do!

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