Maybe some other ST could use this information so thought I would share. Remember--I was trying to find out what we needed to take our grandson to Spain and Italy. Today I got smart and called passport services (which, by the way, they charge you to talk to someone). The word was that we need to make sure that the custody papers specifically give us the right to take him out of the country. I was definitively told that unless we had that, we would not be allowed to leave. A general custody document would not do. I was also told that both countries would accept this document for entry. Additionally, as there is no dad in the picture (never has been) and his name is not on the birth certificate or passport, we would be OK. But--if he had been named, then we would have had to have his signature also. This would have been disasterous as tracking him down would be virtually impossible. So--if anyone else ever wants to try this, be sure you start in plenty of time to get done whatever needs being done. Recent concerns about parental child kidnapping have resulted in the imposing of significant restrictions. Thanks to all of you who advised me to follow through on these questions!

Jane
http://www.janeandken.com

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