Are you planning a late summer trip with your child before they go back to school that involves traveling farther than your custody agreement allows without your co-parent’s written consent. If so, it’s smart to get that consent before you make reservations. This can be accomplished using a child travel consent letter or form.
A consent to travel letter is also wise for co-parents to use whenever one of them travels anywhere with a minor child. It helps keep the other parent informed about where their child is and also provides documentation that law enforcement or other authorities (like TSA agents) sometimes ask for when they see an adult traveling alone with a child.
What information should the letter include?
A very basic travel consent letter typically requires only the dates and destination(s) of the travel. However, it can be helpful to include information like the following:
- Method of transportation (car, train, air, etc.) and details like flight numbers or driving routes
- Accommodations (hotels, campgrounds, vacation rental properties, relatives’ or friends’ homes, etc.)
- Names of any adults accompanying the parent and child
- Emergency contact numbers and people
- How/when the child and non-traveling parent will stay in touch during the trip
If the notification and permission are required under the custody agreement, the signatures should be notarized. Even if the letter isn’t required, if there’s any chance the other parent could claim they weren’t notified, it may be a good idea to request some kind of confirmation from your co-parent that they have been informed about the travel.
If this is your first trip with your child since your separation or divorce or if you’ve had issues in the past with your co-parent consenting to travel, it can help to get legal guidance in drafting the letter and getting approval or confirmation. This can help prevent unnecessary stress and anxiety for everyone – most importantly, your child.