can she take them overseas?

[musicalmummy]

my step daughter, 9, just rang and said when she somes this afternoon her mother wants dp to sign her passport to go overseas.
now isn't that something she should discuss with him first?

[SorenLorensen]

yes it is something she should discuss with him. that is why he needs to sign, by him signing it means he gives his permission and preferably he knows the ins and outs.

TBH if it was me and my daughter i would not sign unless i had all the details and agreed with the trip

[musicalmummy]

yeh well i feel the same. i don't think she'd do anythign like run off, but you never know. knowing her she'l try and make dp pay half the air fare, lol, as if he would. i just can't believe she was going to send the passport here and not even discuss it with him.

[mythreelittlemonkeys]

She needs him to sign...therefore there should be some sort of discussion ie where they are going. If your DH refused she can apply to get passport without a signature...but if he has a valid reason ie he thinks she may not return or they are going to Indonesia and he not happy about that then best thing is to go online to the passport office and apply for a intervention order. This prevents her getting your stepdaughter a passport for 1 year. It is a simple form and they are very swift about approving. We did last year to stop DSS going to Bali,as mother had threatened to stay there(she wouldnt have but DH not happy them going there anyway)
The family courts will not look favourably anyhow if the trip is to Bali or the likes as they feel it not a safe destination and lots of other place to go.
Next year DSD's passport runs out and DH is going to 'discuss' whether he will sign new one and one for DSS depending on how the ex is behaving although she is much more settled and has less reason to try anythig stupid now.
Equally she would not let us take kids to Europe with us...for the same reason...not that we would ever not return but she worries about it...

[Issey]

i asked my lawyer about passports recently encase it comes up later (going through finalising child issues / property).

lawyer says that if it is a safe destination, there is not a lot of reason the other parent can give not to sign. the parent taking the child can be made to give copies of return tickets and notice of 30 days for example that they are going which just reassures the other parent that you are coming back. it is looked at as a good cultural experience or seeing family etc as valid reasons for going. you can also get intervention so the passport has to been signed, i am stipulating in my settlement that either party has to sign passport if either party requests.

i guess it would be nice to be 'asked' tho out of courtesy.

[musicalmummy]

i asked my lawyer about passports recently encase it comes up later (going through finalising child issues / property).

lawyer says that if it is a safe destination, there is not a lot of reason the other parent can give not to sign. the parent taking the child can be made to give copies of return tickets and notice of 30 days for example that they are going which just reassures the other parent that you are coming back. it is looked at as a good cultural experience or seeing family etc as valid reasons for going. you can also get intervention so the passport has to been signed, i am stipulating in my settlement that either party has to sign passport if either party requests.

i guess it would be nice to be 'asked' tho out of courtesy.

thas great to know. yeh we think it will be wonderful for the kids to experience going overseas. like you said, it would be nice to be asked.

[DustyPeach]

Pasport laws are quite strict. Where both children have regualr contact with both parents passports will not be issued with out written concent from both parents. The only instances they can be issued is via court order and if the other named parent can not be contacte and all aventues have been exausted.

Here is the government link that shows the current guelines regaring issue of childrens passports.

https://www.passports.gov.au/Web/Newppt/Consent.aspx

[Chickadee]

In addition to both parents permissions on passports, your DP may need to provide a letter of permission for her mum to carry during their travels. When a child travels with only one parent, many countries require a letter from the other parent - it is part of procedures to minimise parental-kidnapping. I recently travelled with DD to Canada and required a letter from her dad. The letter included telephone contact details, so that Canadian Customs & Immigration officers could call him if they had any doubts.

[Pippi Longstocking]

Please think carefully about this. An anecdotal story to tell it from the child's point of view... I have a really good friend with a son from a brief relationship. He is 9 now. She has another child to her current partner, who has been there since the oldest child was 2. Last year, the family decided to go overseas for Christmas to see my friend's partner's family. They had to leave the oldest child :( because his natural dad refused to sign his passport. There was absolutely no reason for him to refuse, it was purely a malicious act of spite that badly affected his child. The country was safe (NZ), there was no reason to suspect they would flee with the child and not return, there were court orders in place etc.

It's so sad when kids are denied the experience of travelling overseas because of spite or unwarranted paranoia. I am absolutely not saying that the OP is being spiteful or paranoid, I am still referring to my friend's situation (thought I'd better clarify lest I offend :p There is no way in hell I would ever even consider allowing my ex to get a passport for my kids :o)
Just please try to make sure that the decision is made with the child's interests in mind. If it seems safe and there isn't a kidnap risk, go for it! Let the child see the world, it can be a life-changing thing!

[DustyPeach]

I hunted back through emails regarding this situation as I have been through having to stop over seas travel for fear of abduction. Even if the country is a "safe" country locating them again once they have been taken can be a costly and time lengthy experience.

Excerpt from one of the email responces recieved from the passport office;

A person who has parental responsibility for a child may request a Child Alert be placed with the Passport Office if they suspect an application may be made for a passport without their consent.

Child Alerts are raised by the completion of a Child Alert Request Form (PC9). This form is available from the website www.passports.gov.au or by telephoning APIS (Australian Passport Information Service) on 13 1232.

A Child Alert results in the special scrutiny of any application for a passport for the child named in the Alert.

Once completed, the Child Alert form may be lodged at the Passport Office or mailed to the address shown on the form.

On receipt of an alert request, the requesting parent will be provided with a letter of acknowledgement stating that the alert has been raised. The Alert will remain in place for 12 months, or until the age of 18 if presented with a court order.

If you have any further questions in relation to the above, please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail or by telephoning APIS on 13 1232.

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Its nice to have this peace of mind. All be it the children once 18 may decide they wish to live there. However in their tender years I am talking under 3 and 2. They have no need to travel outside the country. Even at 7 they dont remember the experience as adults. Hence the legal age for passports is 18.