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Original poster

Baby surname on passports/birth certificate etc.

37 replies

NicNac100 · 19/05/2020 08:09

Hi all
I've heard mixed messages about this and wondered if anyone knew what was best to do. We're not married and I'm happy for baby to have my partners' surname however I will probably (one day in the future when we're allowed again lol) go away more often with her on my own (with my mum etc.) as he can't always take so much time off work and my family have a holiday home, and wondered do you have difficulty taking a child on holiday if they have a different surname to you? Would I need my partner to write a letter each time we go stating it is ok?
Should she have both surnames on her birth certificate and/or passport for ease?
Thanks in advance!

OP posts:

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titchy · 19/05/2020 13:09

Doing extra checks on every single child regardless of name, taking a lot more time/resources etc and no doubt pissing a lot of people off?

Well yes, that's the legal position. Surname means nothing. In practice it doesn't happen that often, but checks should be made that the other parent has given permission, hence why OP should take a signed letter from her dp consenting to the child being taken abroad.

yikesanotherbooboo · 19/05/2020 13:10

My children have my DH's surname . It has never been an issue that mine is different. I agree with those that say the children's surname should be yours if you are not married ; you could double barrel or have your DP's name as a middle or family name.

BluebirdHill · 19/05/2020 13:15

@SporadicNamechange that's a very sensible idea about parent details in the child's passport.

Cherryrainbow · 19/05/2020 13:19

What I would add is that me and sons dad are separated, we never married and didn't go through legal channels to make our arrangements as it was pretty amicable and we do 50/50 care. My aunt had an issue with her ex where he tried to claim she kidnapped their child when she took her abroad on holiday because he didn't agree to it. Due to that the letter is basically a back up so you can't make up claims if there are any disputes which thankfully we haven't had any problem with. In the letter I just state my details, confirm i agree to and permit the holiday between such and such dates and staying at such location, We both sign and have a copy. With our school holiday forms we basically both sign them as well to show the school we both agree to it so again we have that assurance of confirmation that we have knowledge the other parent is taking our son out x

sel2223 · 19/05/2020 13:26

@titchy is it? I work in an airport and didn't know that was the legal position. I've only ever seen checks done when there's a different surname or an issue with the passport.

@SporadicNamechange I actually think that's a great idea to have parent names in the passport to match with the birth certificate.

Original poster

NicNac100 · 19/05/2020 13:43

@SporadicNamechange

Or we could build that into child passports - they could routinely include the names (and dates of birth) of both parents in the ‘observations’ section.

Brilliant idea would make so much more sense!!

OP posts:

CeibaTree · 19/05/2020 15:32

I take a copy of DC's birth certificates with me, but have never once been asked to show them. I really think there should be a page on children's passports with their parent's details on though.

titchy · 19/05/2020 16:45

Sel - yes. The legal position is that all parties with parental responsibility must consent to the child being taken abroad unless there is a court order in place which allows for 28 days without permission from the other parent.

I hope your immigration/passport control colleagues have a better awareness of the law on child abduction...

Colouringinbook · 19/05/2020 16:45

DS has my surname as a middle name and the same surname as his dad. We got stopped going through the airport last year. Luckily DH was stood on the other side of the passport check! I'd definitely take BC and a letter if I was flying just with DC even though we do share a name.

toobusytothink · 19/05/2020 16:49

@SporadicNamechange
That’s genius! Why don’t they do that????

sel2223 · 19/05/2020 17:04

@titchy lol. Obviously they have to consent. I thought you were saying that checks legally have to be done on all children leaving the country.

i hope your immigration/passport control colleagues have a better awareness of the law on child abduction...

Patronising much?

SporadicNamechange · 19/05/2020 17:24

That’s genius! Why don’t they do that????

I have no idea why it isn't done as standard. It seems so obvious and straightforward. There's a page for 'official observations'. That seems a pertinent one on a child passport.

I'm sure there's a really long but utterly arbitrary reason why they can waste time clarifying my title (which is of no consequence to anyone frankly) but not that.

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