Re:Holiday Booking and Access To Passports

Hello All

I have managed to get my ex to agree to me haveing the kids over Summer half term and taking them away to Spain for a weeks holiday!! Yeah !!

Now I have booked it she will not give me the passports until the day I pick the kids up the night before the flight.

I dont truct her further than I can spit, I asked that I have them at least two weeks before so I am sure she will not mess me about.

What is my position, do I wait and risk it, or can I get a judge to assit me??

Regards SM

We had a defined court order which states that if either parent wants to take the children abroad passports must be handed over one week before the day of departure. This was to ensure that if they were out of date there would be enough time to get a renewal.

You need to find out when they expire as you should really have 6 months left on a passport from the date of return.

I wouldn't trust my Bf's ex as far as I could throw her, she would without a shadow of doubt hand over expired passports on the day of departure.

Do you have a court order, a solicitor etc.

unless there is a documented history of her not complying with orders./agreements (e.g. she has been penalised by the court for breaching orders), I think a court would be likelyto say that handing over the passports when you collect the children for the holiday is reasonable, unless you can show that you need them earlier (for instance, if you were going somewhere which required them to have visas)

I don't think it would be unreasonable to ask for them at the previous contact (i.e. the last time before the holiday) perhaps on the basis that you want to be able to get copies done in case of loss or damage, but I don't think you'd be justified in going to court on this issue alone.

Has she confirmed that agreement in writing? If not I would suggest sriting to her (e-mail is fine) saying that you just wish to let her havethe details ofthe booking, and to confirn the agreement in terms of when you will collect the children, that she will hand the passports over to you and that you agree to return them to her on the children's return home, and also setting out any other specific details you have agreed about the holiday.

Ask if you can please confirm that that is her understanding also, or let you know of anything you've missed out. That should give you some peace of mind and makes it harder for her to subsequently change her mind

I did get the passports last year in the end, but she mucked about so we never got away as it was too late and the holiday cost too much.
I think I will ask that her solicitor hold them and send them to me.

Regards

I think the very fact that you had to forego your holiday last year would be enough for a judge to order passports to be handed over earlier.

Thinking about it I dont want any more hassle from her, I will suggest the Solicitor holds the passports.
I really don't want to have anything to do with her at all if i can help it. If I rise to the argument it will feed her need for attention and that will make her feel important, and she is not!

I will be the bigger person!