So, my ex has been dating this woman from Canada for about six months. They aren’t engaged or anything, and honestly, I’m not bothered by his dating life. We co-parent pretty well, despite our past issues. But now he wants to get passports for the kids to visit her, and that makes me uncomfortable. They’ve only spent a few days together total, and the kids haven’t even met her yet. Can he just get passports without my permission? And can I say no to him taking them out of the country? There’s nothing in our agreement about this, so I’m kinda lost on what to do. Honestly, I’m worried he might try to keep them there or something. Any advice would be great… thanks in advance.
That sounds really tricky. I think both parents usually need to agree for passports, but laws can vary by state. Have you thought about talking to a lawyer?
I totally get your worry. It’s a big deal to let them travel out of the country, especially if you don’t know the girlfriend well. Is it possible to have a conversation with your ex about your concerns?
You definitely have the right to be cautious, especially given your history with him. Trust your gut on this one.
I wouldn’t let him take them without some sort of agreement. You might want to think about putting something in writing or even going to mediation if you can.
If it’s not in your agreement, you might have a chance to push back. Just make sure you document everything and keep communication open.