FAMILIES could be heading for holiday disaster if they aren't aware of important travel restrictions when it comes to mismatched surnames.
Many parents will be going abroad with their – but they won't get very far without this key information.
dreams could if separated parents are not aware of the legal risks surrounding different family names.
Jennifer Moore, Legal Director at Rayden Solicitors, has provided key information for divorced parents and their offspring.
The expert ininternational divorce told Flying Eze: “Agreeing on foreignwhen you are a separated parent is often tricky – especially at Easter time when parents are navigating their first break with new family dynamics and adjusted plans.
“This is particularly true if there are no Court Orders in place, and you are the parent with a different surname to your children.
“We advise all parents to undertake and take the required legal advice before travelling.
“The UKVI are alert to the risk of child abduction and also child trafficking. They will often check that the adult travelling has the appropriate consent, particularly if the child does not have the same surname.”;
Rayden Solicitors have provided three key passport checks for recently divorced parents who have changed their surname. These include:
Update your passport and boarding pass with your new legal name. Airlines and border officials require that the name on your ticket exactly matches the name on your passport.
This step is especially important if you before you changed your name.
Contact your travel provider.If a name appears incorrect, or you have changed your name and this is not reflected on your insurance documents, the experts advise contacting your provider to correct this or you may not be covered.
Take your change of name deed with you.This will ensure that if required, you have the documentation to prove your identity following changing your name.
The legal pros suggest you carry your child’s birth or adoption certificateif their surname is different to yours and bring a consent letter from the other parent(or anyone else with parental responsibility) if you’re travelling alone.
Include any orders that grant permission to travel, such as a Lives With Order or Specific Issue Order.
Check airline policiesand speak with embassies of both the UK and destination country.
And enjoy.
