This is a sponsored blog post from Consilia Legal
If you are thinking of travelling abroad this upcoming school summer holidays, as a parent/grandparent have you considered the implications of travelling abroad with a child who has a different surname to you?
Whether you are separated, divorced, have a different surname to your children or you are a grandparent taking your grandchildren on a relaxing holiday, there are a number of points for you to consider before travelling abroad.
1. Consult those with parental responsibility for the children
Parents named on a birth certificate have legal rights for a child which is known as parental responsibility (PR). In addition, PR may be granted by the courts by way of a Court order.
Before booking holidays, it is imperative that all parties with parental responsibility consent for the child to travel abroad
2. Have a letter of consent
A way to ensure that no issues arise if you are taking a child abroad with the consent of all parties with PR, is by obtaining a letter of consent confirming the same. This is the most useful way to evidence that you have explicit consent to take the child abroad.
A letter of consent prepared by a solicitor is most likely to hold more weight than any other form of letter. This is particularly important for grandparents who wish to take their grandchild abroad if the parents of the child will not be accompanying them.
3. Have evidence of your relationship to the child
The sorts of evidence which will assist in evidencing the relationship with the child are certified copies of for example the child’s birth certificate.
At Consilia we can assist you with obtaining certified copies.
4. Contact the airline you are travelling with
Before booking a holiday, we would suggest that you contact the airline you intend to travel with to ascertain whether they have any specific requirements you would need to comply with in order to travel with the child/children.
5. Check with the local Embassy of the country you are travelling to
Different embassies have their own rules and regulations. Therefore, it is advisable to contact the local embassy of the location you intend to travel to and ascertain whether they have any specific requirements you will need to comply with.
Whilst we can set out a few tips to make your trip as stress free and smooth as possible, we cannot guarantee that no issues will arise when travelling abroad with a child whether you are the parent with a different surname or a grandparent to the child.
We would advise that you contact the other person(s) with PR as far in advance as possible to obtain consent prior to booking. If you are unable to obtain the consent of the other person(s) this does not necessarily mean that you cannot book the holiday. There are other options available to take the child on holiday abroad. At Consilia, we can take you through the alternative ways of being able to travel abroad with a child if you cannot obtain consent.
Alternatively, if it is simply the case that you think that you may need a letter of consent preparing, at Consilia Legal we charge £250 plus VAT for this service.
If you would like any further information in relation to travelling abroad with a child, please do not hesitate to contact the team at Consilia Legal by emailing enquiries@consilialegal.co.uk or calling 0113 322 9222 and we will be more than happy to speak with you.