Miscellaneous Forum

So, I have been trying to renew my son's passport for months now. The new laws in place to prevent child abduction have made it impossible for me! I now have to pay a lawyer to go to court to obtain "sole custody" of my son. His father hasn't been around for nearly 6 years (no visits, no cards on his birthday...NO contact AT ALL) and I either need his permission for a passport or I can spend a small fortune in the courts! Anyone else ever had a problem like this??

Do you know WHERE his father is? You may be able to get by with a notorized letter if you can dig him up to sign the passport papers. Do you know any notaries who could help you out?

I have sent TWO separate notarized letters from my lawyer. One is the document that the State Department requires and one was a letter explaining my ex husbands unavailability. Apparently, that is not enough. I had left numerous messages at my ex's work...he never called back. We tried sending letters...he never answered. I have no idea where he lives, but I am going to find out and stick a banana in his tailpipe! :~D
Yes, we are both U.S. citizens...there are no extenuating circumstances. I work for an airline and like to travel out of the country with my son...that's it!

There must be a point of time when a child can divorce his/her parent. I would think that not maintaining or wanting any contact would be the right time. My heart goes to you and I hope that the issue will be resolved to your satisfaction quickly.
Carole.

I agree, it's completely ridiculous, although, I must admit, I thought it was a touch ridiculous when they first introduced the idea of passports for newborn babies. Obviously within a year or two the child bears little or no resemblance to their baby picture!

I can understand the precautions to prevent abduction, but I have gone out of my way to prove his absence from Ethan's life. Yes, it will be money well spent to get sole custody...just a pain and it will take MONTHS!! So much for Italy at the end of the month.
Kay, I will be in London in the summer some time......fingers crossed!

Hi Jenn, After one year, my Ethan and I have just finally wrapped up custody issues. His father is none too happy about the idea of Ethan and I jetting around the globe together and he has also refused to sign off on the passport application. I think what is most frustrating and maybe your situation is similar, is that I have never done anything to keep my son and his father apart, in fact it is quite the opposite, so it baffles me that he would have concerns about my taking him abroad. Perhaps the best thing I can do, is keep appealing to my ex's limited senses and pray for a change of heart since those $300 an hour attorney fees add up rapidly.

Ethan keeps asking "Mommy, can we go see the Eiffel Tour?" And I'm thinking. "Maybe the replica in Vegas?"

Best of Luck to you and your Ethan ;-)

Jeez, Jenn, that sucks! It was my ex's choice to not have anything to do with Ethan. I've never tried to keep him away. He's just a miserable human being and hates the fact that we don't care about his absence! Sounds like your Ethan's dad likes the fact that he still has some control over you! Maybe my ex and your ex should get together and have a pity party for each other because we have gotten on with our lives! Yeah...this is going to cost me a LOT of money! Let's just hope he doesn't try and contest me!
I am opening a whole new can of worms here! UGH!

Hi Jen ,I just read your posting and the replies .
Off course there is nothing that Lori & I can do for you other then
telling you how much of a dissapointment , or let's just say how much this sucks.
I hurts me to see you have to go through this ,but all I can do is hope that you can sort it out as soon as you can with the least amount of cost Jen .
I don't know what else to say Jen , I think that it is very good to bring this up in this Forum and have your friends support you in any way they can .
We love you Jen & Ethan .

Lori & Hans

It doesn't help matters that I am getting different answers to my questions when I call the Department of State AND the Court of Common Pleas here in Cleveland. Nobody seems to know exactly what I should do. My landlord, who is also a dear friend, is an attorney and he is on vaction for another 2 and a half weeks...he's the one trying to help me. I guess I'll have to wait for his return, but 2 and a half weeks seems like forever!

Brad, I have researched this from all angles and I can have allocation of custody modified under these circumstances, but ultimately, it is the judges decision. Hopefully, we will be lucky enough to get one that is sympathetic...and, if nothing else, will grant me permission to get Ethan a passport! Thanks, Brad!!

OH - YAY! Dennis Kucinich is my Congressman!!! I have supported him for years!!! Good idea, Roxanne!!