since the question was asked about traveling and needing one - what if both biological parents are listed on birth certificate but the other parent is who knows where? Does anyone know if there's a way to get a passport then?....what would be proof that I have full custody? The child support papers? There's nothing on custody or visitation because he's never bothered (which is fine with me the further away he is the better!).
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html
The website lists a few different options when only one parent can apply.
Go to the court and cut his parental rights due to abandonment... problem solved :) If he's not in the child's life he shouldn't have any rights anyways, so he can come back 10 yrs later and decide to take the child down from his shelf like a toy. From your last sentence I'm guessing there's a good reason not to have him in the child's life.
http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds3053/ds3053_846....
This is the form you use to explain why you can't get the other parent's documents, if you don't have a court order granting full custody.
If you don't have a custody agreement you should seek sole custody through the court. That way there will be no problem obtaining a passport.
If you have full custody and proof of that you will be fine.
Check the state department web site - I think you can file an affidavit if the other biological parent cannot be found or will not cooperate after a reasonable effort on your part.
It also helps to have yearbook photos, school records - something that shows that your child lives with you the majority of the time. We did that with my son who was 16 at the time, when you're not even supposed to need the affidavit (which my ex-husband would have supplied if we asked).
You might want to make a passport appointment for you, then explain the situation while you're there and see if the clerk has any suggestions for your child.
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/80106.pdf
This is the direst link to the form you'll need to fill out since you can't get a hold of the non custodial parent.
S.
Call your congress person and ask for help before they turn you down. I had to do a congressional interference to get my minor child a passport.
Since it goes through the Post Office these days there is no one to ask.
I had to get a letter from my lawyer stating that we have not seen the absent parent in however many years and there has been no contact whatsoever in that time. (b'day/Christmas cards/presents) I had to do this to get my dd's name changed on her passport. I would advise that you send all documents - birth certificate, marriage & divorce certificate plus anything else you can think off. We even had my dd's principal, doctor and our local town councilor write a small letter for us. I was determined to get her name changed on that passport as she has only known her name to be the same as mine since she was very small. Its a fabulous feeling when its all official.
We actually just had to go through this with my step daughter. All we had to do is provide an original copy of her birth certificate and then the court documents stating that my husband had full custody and it went super smooth. We didn't have any problems.
J.
We didn't have a problem either-just explained in written the reason why the other parent can not be present.
