Travelling with minor to US?

[david]

I am a single parent, US citizen, my baby is a US citizen by birth to but he went to africa with his fathers mother about two years ago. The child is now 2 and 1/2 years old. We were not legally married with the father and are not living together any more, but the fathers name is on the baby's birth certificate. I would like to go to Africa and bring my child back to US, my question is must I get consent from the father? What legal documents do I need? The baby was born in Ohio and in Ohio its presumed the minors mother has full custody of the child if they were not legally married when the baby was born.

 

[Charlie]

No place else that I know of has the law like Ohio. You will need an American passport for the baby...I presume he already has one since he went to Africa. You do not need a letter of permission for the baby to travel internationally unless the country he is in requires it and I doubt that. Are the father and grandmother willing to let you bring the chlid back to the U.S.? If they are and they hung onto the child's passport...go for it. If they are not, and if the law is on their side as far as custody in the country where they are, you are going to have a heck of a time. If they are willing, but lost the passport...you can get a new one at the nearest American embassy or consulate in that country. Take the birth certificate with you. If they are not willing, you can go to the embassy for help. You will most likely have to go through the courts in that country. Ohio law will mean nothing there. You probably should get an attorney. If you do get the child back to the U.S., you need to get court appointed sole legal and physical custody. That Ohio law is odd and would mean nothing in another state. Good luck.