If you’re a divorced parent who will be traveling with their child over spring break, it’s crucial to ensure that you have any necessary permission from your co-parent if you share custody. That’s especially important if you’re taking your child out of state or farther than whatever distance has been agreed on that doesn’t require consent. So is ensuring you’ve made the necessary arrangements with your co-parent if you’re using part of their parenting time for the trip.
Even if you won’t be traveling a long distance with your child, it’s wise to use what’s often called a child travel consent letter. How official you make this depends on your relationship with your co-parent, whether this is one of your first trips alone with your child, and, of course, whether their consent is a requirement under the terms of your divorce.
What information should the letter include?
A travel consent letter can help the non-traveling parent know where their child is, better stay in touch with them and share in the experience. It also makes it more likely your co-parent will reciprocate when they vacation with the child.
At a minimum, the letter should include a basic itinerary for the trip (like how you’ll be traveling and where you’ll be staying). Further, it’s wise to include alternate contact information in case you aren’t reachable by cellphone. Let your co-parent know if you’ll be somewhere with spotty or no WiFi. It’s also important to plan when and how often your child and your co-parent will communicate while you’re away.
Another important purpose for a travel consent letter
Whether you’re traveling by plane, train or automobile, it’s smart to keep a copy of the letter with you. Adults traveling alone with children – particularly men and people with adopted and/or biracial children — can arouse suspicion in police officers, flight attendants, TSA agents and railroad personnel. They’re trained to keep an eye out for child traffickers. It’s also wise to carry a copy of your child’s birth certificate and other ID, as well as your custody order.
If you’re still working out your parenting plan, you might want to add some language about consent to travel documents. That can help it become routine for both of you when you travel with your child. If you have any questions or concerns – and certainly if you need official documentation of your co-parent’s consent to travel with your child – getting legal guidance early can help things go more smoothly.