Divorced parents could be stopping from flying without six important documents

Divorced parents face the prospect of being refused entry at airports without the proper paperwork, experts have cautioned. Separated mums and dads have been alerted about six essential documents required for summer travel.

Travelling without the consent of the other parent could be considered child abduction under UK law. Therefore, it's essential to carry a signed consent letter and supporting documents whenever travelling abroad to avoid problems.

Ann Owens, a consultant solicitor specialising in divorce law at Richard Nelson LLP, explained that estranged and divorced parents must obtain a consent letter from the parent staying behind, a birth certificate, a divorce certificate, a marriage certificate, the child's passport and a court order (where relevant)."

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As reported byBirmingham Mail, Ann said that a consent letter from the non-travelling parent is very important. She said: "A signed letter provides proof that your ex-partner has agreed to you holidaying abroad should you ever be challenged while travelling."

Exceptions may apply in different cases. As explained by gov.uk, if the person has a Child Arrangement Order stating that the child lives with them, then they can travel up to 28 days without the other parent's consent, unless the court has said otherwise.

Ann added: "The letter will need the other parent's contact details as well as the details of your holiday, such as where you're going to be staying. As well as carrying the passport, you must also ensure it's valid for the specific country you're travelling to.

"In the majority of instances your passport will need to be valid for at least three months after your intended return date but for countries like Dubai, Thailand and Australia it must be valid for at least six months from your date of entry into the country."

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Ann warned: "If you're relying on a court order to take your child abroad it's imperative to allow as much time as possible for the case to be heard. While you can request an urgent court order these can take more than a week to go through the courts.

"For those who have been successful in gaining permission this way then you must travel with a sealed copy of the Court Order with you. Border officials may ask for proof of your legal right to take the child abroad at the airport, and if you can't provide it, you may be turned away at customs."

But most importantly, besides having all the paperwork in order, parents are responsible for ensuring that their child's passport is valid and accessible.