A template you can use to send an email or letter to your child's other parent to seek consent or to let them know you wish to take your children abroad for a holiday or family event, such as a wedding.
To use this template you can either:
1) Copy and paste the letter text (below) into an email, or
2) Click the 'Download' button (bottom of page) for a Microsoft Word template
Your Address
Other Parent’s address
Today’s Date
Dear [parent’s name],
Taking [child’s name] abroad for a holiday
I am writing to let you know that I am planning a family holiday with our child/ren in [location] from [start date] to end date].
[Option 1 - if there are no court orders in place, or the other parent has a Lives With element in a Child Arrangements Order];
I am asking for your express consent to permit me taking our children outside of the United Kingdom for a holiday. I am happy to provide more precise details about where we will be staying if required. * OR: I will have my mobile phone with me and switched on so you can contact myself or the children if required or in the event of an emergency. * I would like to organise this holiday amicably, so we are both happy with the arrangements. We plan to fly/take the train at [time] on [date] and I will return the children to you at [time] on [date] . This will be a wonderful opportunity for our children to experience a new country and its’ culture, as well as enjoying a fun family holiday.
* delete as appropriate
[Option 2 if there is a joint lives-with Child Arrangements Order in place]:
I am letting you know in advance of my plans to take [child/ren’s names] on holiday abroad to [location/country] during my allocated time with our children. We plan to fly/take the train at [time] on [date] and I will return the children to you at [time] on [date] . This will be a wonderful opportunity for our children to experience a new country and its’ culture, as well as enjoying a fun family holiday. I am happy to provide you with the details for the [resort / camp site / hotel etc.] whilst we are away, so that you can contact [child name] in case of emergencies. * OR: I will have my mobile phone with me and switched on so you can contact myself or the children if required or in the event of an emergency. *
*delete as appropriate
I will need to have the children’s passports by [date].
I will make sure the children have everything they need for their holiday. If there is anything in particular the children would like to bring with them, such as a favourite teddy or gaming device, please let me so we can arrange that.
IF you require any other information from me, please let me know as soon as possible.
I look forward to hearing from you shortly so that I can finalise the arrangements.
Yours sincerely,
Your name
** Wikivorce says: Unless there is a court order in place specifying that you must provide precise details of where you will be staying, you are not obliged to provide the exact details. However, it is not unreasonable for the other parent to know where your children will be staying.
If you are your ex are on amicable terms, then sharing the name of hotel/holiday location shouldn’t be an issue.
If your ex is likely to cause difficulties by knowing the exact location/name of hotel, then provide the name of the town or area instead and a contact phone number (your mobile) for emergency contact.
