Sole Custody & Passport Application

by Sophia from Hollywood, Florida, Broward County

Sole Custody & Passport Application:
I am a single mother of two girls and need to obtain sole custody of my 10 year old daughter.

We live in Florida and have not had contact or know where her father is since she was 2 years old.

I have been taking care of her ever since I had to leave him in 2002.

I have come to undersatnad that if I need a passport for my daughetr to go on vacation or some other issues I will not be able to do so without her father's permission. And with me not having any contact or getting any kind of support from him I dod not know how that would work.

Since I take care of my children 100% of the time I need to file for sole custody so I do not run into any issues later on.

Answer to Florida Court Forms Child Custody Question

Dear Sophia,

You can petition the court for sole legal custody and decision making authority. You would need to notify or attempt to notify the other parent of your intention to obtain sole legal custody of your daughters so that he has an opportunity to answer.

Depending on your current and past circumstances, you can do this using the Petition for Paternity or a Supplemental Petition to Modify process. Read the instructions for both procedures, and see which one is appropriate for you.

Or you can apply for passports for your daughers through the U.S. Department of State, and fill out a DS 3053. Instructions for that form state in part:

You are the applying parent or guardian, and the written consent of the non-applying parent or guardian cannot be obtained

And ...

You must sign and date Form DS-3053 in the presence of a Certified Notary Public.

Be sure to have both pages of the application completed, if necessary.

NOTE: Form DS-3053 must be submitted with the minor's passport application within 3 months of the date it is notarized.

The form requests an explanation as to the reasons you cannot obtain consent from the other parent, as follows:

5. STATEMENT OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES To be completed by applying parent or guardian when the written consent of the non-applying parent or guardian cannot be obtained. (Use back of form if additional space is needed.)

The DS-3503 child custody form can be found online here... Form DS-3503.

Notice: We provide these answers to the general public and our website visitors as a means to further their online legal research. These answers are merely suggestions and should not be regarded as legal advice.

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Our Self Help Guide, Modifying Custody & Visitation in Florida, helps you navigate the court process and procedures once you file your documents with easy to follow checklists, links to websites, important addresses & phone numbers, and much more. Modifying Custody & Visitation In Florida

See These Related Florida Child Custody Pages

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Go to Florida Child Custody

Go to Florida Child Custody FAQs

Go to Florida Child Custody Forms

Go to Modifying Custody & Visitation Documents Preparation Service

Back to Florida Court Forms from Sole Custody Passport Application

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