We are set to go on a trip to the Carribbean next week. My entire family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) goes down every March. My grandparents have a place there and then rent several other condos, depending on who is coming when. So it is kind of a revolving door, depending on schedules, spring breaks, etc.

This year we were set to travel on the 17th and DH & SS were going to return home on the 24th. DD & I were going to stay on longer with my mom and return on the 28th.

DH is having some major issues that might prevent him from going. :( He is disappointed but if he can't go, still wants SS to go, as he is REALLY excited about it.

We looked into changing SS's ticket to return home with me and DD on the 28th but BM is not okay with him being gone for 11 days, understandably.

So then we considered having DD & I come home on the 24th with him but it was going to be over $500 PER TICKET to change them! Too much.

S our third and final idea was that we change SS's ticket to return home a day early, on the 23rd. The reason is that my cousin and his fiancee (both 24 yrs old) are flying home that day. They are both very responsible, kind people--college grads, employed, they've got it altogether and I would totally trust them to serve as "babysitters" for SS on the way home.

BM is okay with this idea, as is DH.

So...I am thinking we need to get something NOTARIZED giving me permission to travel with SS, and a separate document giving my cousin and his wife permission--particularly because THEY will be going through customs with him on the way home.

I don't know how this would work? Should I contact Customs directly? Anyone know?

AUTHORIZATION FOR FOREIGN TRAVEL WITH MINOR

To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is in relation to my child, _____________________________________________ [name of child], who is a citizen of the United States of America and a minor born on _________________________ [specify child’s date of birth]. My child holds a U.S. passport with the number _________________________.

I do solemnly swear that I have legal custody of my child and that no pending divorce or child custody proceedings involving my child exist. I do hereby grant full authorization and consent for my child to travel outside of the United States with _________________________ [specify name of adult with whom child will travel], who is the _________________________ [specify adult’s relationship with child] of my child. The purpose of the travel is _________________________ [specify vacation, touring, to visit relatives, to accompany adult on business trip or other reason]. I have approved the following travel plans:

Dates of travel: Destinations/Accommodations:
_________________ ______________________________________
_________________ ______________________________________

I authorize _____________________________________________ [name of adult with whom child will travel] to make any changes whatsoever to the travel plans specified above.

Under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of ______________________, I attest to the truthfulness, accuracy, and validity of the forgoing statement.

____________________________________ ___________________
Parent 1’s Signature Date

____________________________________ ___________________
Parent 2’s Signature Date

Parent #1:

Name: ______________________________________________________________________ __
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
Home phone: __________________________ Work phone: __________________________
Cell phone: ____________________________ Pager: _______________________________
Email: ________________________________
Additional Contact Information: _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ _________

Parent #2:
Name: ______________________________________________________________________ __
Address: ______________________________________________________________________
Home phone: __________________________ Work phone: __________________________
Cell phone: ____________________________ Pager: _______________________________
Email: ________________________________
Additional Contact Information: _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________ _________

CERTIFICATE OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF NOTARY PUBLIC

STATE OF __________________
COUNTY OF ________________

Acknowledged before me on ___________________ [date] by __________________________________ [name of principal].

[Notary Seal, if any]:

_______________________________
(Signature of Notarial Officer)

Notary Public for the State of __________________
My commission expires: ______________________

I, _____________, the mother of ______________, age ____, DOB _______, authorize her to travel on ___________dates to ______________location(s) with ________________ names of responsible parties and their title.

In case of emergency, _________________is/are authorized to make medical decisions. Please contact: (exhaustive list of phone numbers and names in outbound/inbound locations) in case of emergency.

For her, I'd put No known allergies as well, but if your SS has any medical issue I'd make sure it's known.

I would then staple a copy of her birth certificate/photo id to the paper for the notary to seal.

It always gave those responsible for her peace of mind, and me peace of mind too.

Yes, he has a passport. Thank GOD DH & BM got it last winter, before things got ugly with her. They both had to apply in person TOGETHER at the post office.

I am fortunate in that I am the only one on DD's birth certificate, so when I got her passport, it was easy as pie, since legally I am the only recognized parent.

Here's my google search

One -- some stuff may be domestic travel.

Two -- if not recent, the US now requires everyone to have a passport, even to Mexico or Carribean.

I know. We have been going to the Carribbean every spring break since I was 4. I believe they changed the laws in 2007 or 2008, requiring EVERYONE to have a passport.

SS DOES have a passport. It doesn't expire until 2015.

That way the legalese is correct and the parent can put what ever they want on the document, and extra papers can be attached, etc. Then they can seal the whole bunch together for a nice legal package.

I made up my own document because I needed extra lines, etc, and I wanted to have it saved in the computer so I didn't have to fill it out every time. My DD travels several times a year, by herself and with various relatives.

here's a form

and here's some information

The point is to facilliatate the child traveling OVERSEAS.

Was there anything in the form you provided that mentioned traveling outside the US. A passport number?

my ex was asked couple of time to show if she is his daughter during international travel, but never to show if he has custody.

i was never even asked if she is my daughter. we once drove to Canada 4 adults and DD in the car, she was maybe 10, nobody even asked if she is related to anyone in the car, could be anybody taking her anywhere.

I once traveled back from the Caribbean with DS then 5 and my 1st cousin's son also 5 after a similar family gathering. We were dropping him off in NY for his parents (he traveled down with his aunt/mom's sis and flew back with us) and then we went on to LA.

Cousin got the proper forms, very much like kkny's, from the airline directly, in this case American. She picked it up from one of their sales offices.

As mentioned above, no one asked for the document on either trip, just the passports(we also had copies of the birth certificate, pre-school IDs - loaded for bear This is becase on an earlier trip another cousin did NOT have her kids passports, they left the US ok but couldn't come back. She had to scramble, fly to the counsulate high drama) so now better safe than sorry. Immigration only asked what were the relationships and looked at the passports. I heard the airlines will e-mail the forms to you now if you have purchased tickets. I don't remember them being notarized, not to say they weren't, but is probably a good idea.

And I've never had anyone ask to see a copy. Enjoy your trip!

So I am sure we will get all this paperwork together and no one will ask to see it---but just in case, it's good to have it.

Kinda scary...