VE3ESN
Ontario, Canada
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Thanks so much to all for the suggestions/advice.
Today I went to the local Service Canada office and picked up a copy of "Bon Voyage, But....". They have a sample consent letter posted HERE.
Seems that the safest way is to have the letter notarized, but I do like the suggestion above to make the dates for, say, at least a year. As far as Canadian banks having notaries on staff, I've never heard of that.
Any more comments are certainly appreciated!
Jerry & Susie
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islander35
Canada
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Better to be safe then sorry and just have the notarized letter for customs. My wife has taken our daughter down south a time or two and each time even with the notarized letter, they are extra cautious and take the time to ask the extra question or two.
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VE3ESN
Ontario, Canada
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I found a link to Canadian company called Red Seal Notary. Here's what they say:
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Consent to Travel Documents
Due to increasing concern for the safety of children, many governments including that of Canada have initiated special requirements when children under 18 years of age are travelling without both parents.
Specifically, many countries now require that documentary evidence in the form of a notarized consent to travel letter be presented to establish the permission of the parent(s) / legal guardian(s) for a minor to cross international borders with an accompanying adult. This requirement is in addition to other legal requirements as specified by airlines and official authorities.
Also, it should be noted that a simple letter or consent form that has not been notarized by a licensed notary public may be rejected by border officials due to the fact that such letters or forms can be easily forged. The following are examples of circumstances under which you should consider having a notarized consent to travel document:
Child Travelling With One Parent - If a minor is travelling with only one parent, the absent parent is expected to provide notarized consent.
Child Travelling Alone or Without Either Parent - If a minor is traveling alone or is accompanied by an adult other than a parent, both parents (or the sole documented custodial parent) must provide notarized consent.
Child Has Only One Parent - If a minor child has only one parent as evidenced by its birth certificate, a notarized copy of the birth certificate or the original will be sufficient proof allowing for travel.
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So it seems like I've answered my own question, and for safety, the document must be notarized. However, there must be cheaper ways to do it, because Red Seal wants $89. 
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driveby
Vancouver BC Canada
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IIRC ours was $20 - same notary that did our house mortgage
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SideHillSoup
South Eastern British Columbia
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VE3ESN wrote:Perhaps someone has experience doing this. We realize that a certified letter signed and dated by both parents (in this case our son and daughter-in-law). Our grandson is 9 and our granddaughter is 7.
I spoke to a lawyer who could notarize the document. My question is this: Is it absolutely necessary to get the document notarized?
Each trip would require a new document as it's dated. We're hopeful that we wouldn't need to see a lawyer/notary for every trip.
All advice and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
We have taken our Granddaughter with us across the line many many times in the last 5 years with a notarize letter , she also has a Passport long before it was required. . We have an opened ended letter meaning there is no date to say that it is only good for a certain period of time. We did not use a lawyer we used a Notary Public to “notarize” the letter which was much cheaper. As a matter of fact we notice that the notary stamp has a date on, which is this year so our daughter is checking with the notary so see if we need to re- authorize it.
When we got this letter made up we made three copies, one for us, one for the daughter and one for the x-son in-law. We are on good terms with the x-son in-law which really makes this all so easy.
The last time we used our letter was crossing in to North Dakota last summer. The boarder guards read the note asked our Granddaughter a couple questions and away we went. The daughter has been to Mexico every year for the last 5 and no problems anywhere.
Soup
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dieharder
Ottawa, ON
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SideHillSoup wrote:VE3ESN wrote:Perhaps someone has experience doing this. We realize that a certified letter signed and dated by both parents (in this case our son and daughter-in-law). Our grandson is 9 and our granddaughter is 7.
I spoke to a lawyer who could notarize the document. My question is this: Is it absolutely necessary to get the document notarized?
Each trip would require a new document as it's dated. We're hopeful that we wouldn't need to see a lawyer/notary for every trip.
All advice and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
We have taken our Granddaughter with us across the line many many times in the last 5 years with a notarize letter , she also has a Passport long before it was required. . We have an opened ended letter meaning there is no date to say that it is only good for a certain period of time. We did not use a lawyer we used a Notary Public to “notarize” the letter which was much cheaper. As a matter of fact we notice that the notary stamp has a date on, which is this year so our daughter is checking with the notary so see if we need to re- authorize it.
When we got this letter made up we made three copies, one for us, one for the daughter and one for the x-son in-law. We are on good terms with the x-son in-law which really makes this all so easy.
The last time we used our letter was crossing in to North Dakota last summer. The boarder guards read the note asked our Granddaughter a couple questions and away we went. The daughter has been to Mexico every year for the last 5 and no problems anywhere.
Soup
If memory serves me right, the date on the notary stamp is the date the notary's commission expires. Even if he renews, because that stamp date is on the document, that date is the latest it can be legally accepted.
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Tothill
BC
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Remember you will need passports for the kids too.
I did up a letter for my mother to take my son across the border 11 years ago. I realize the rules may have changed since, but here is what I did.
I did up a letter giving permission for my mother to take my son for that particular trip, and any future trips. I had a copy of her passport and driver's license, my passport and driver's license and my custody order. I also included all the possible contact information I could for me, phone numbers including work, cell home, addresses where I may be while my son was away, emergency contacts, everything I could think of.
At the same time I had a similar letter done up for my ex mother in law who lives in WA.
I took the letter and the original documents (not for the exmil) to a notary who used his seal on everything. I cannot remember the cost, definitely less than $100.00.
It was worth it for the peace of mind.
Mum presented it at the border and the border guards were impressed with the documentation.
Remember medical insurance for them and see if you can get coverage that would get the kids home if something happened to the adults.
Have a great trip.
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VE3ESN
Ontario, Canada
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PackerBacker wrote:Bumpyroad wrote:why would new additional documents be required. couldn't you just include a statement about multiple trips in the first one?
bumpy
That's how it works at the borders around us. One notarized letter stating that the children can cross with the grandparents at any time. The kids need their own passport but no other documents.
What a great idea! We're going to inform our son and daughter-in-law about this. AFAIK, Canadian banks don't notarize documents, but I could be wrong. They could use the lawyer who handled their home purchase.
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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VE3ESN wrote:
Child Has Only One Parent - If a minor child has only one parent as evidenced by its birth certificate, a notarized copy of the birth certificate or the original will be sufficient proof allowing for travel.
OK, I can see a child having only one parent if one dies, but at birth, and on the birth certificate weren't two folks involved in producing him/her? unless the father's blank is left blank or "unknown?
the point about a notary's seal "expiring" probably would cause an issue if a customs official was persnickity so probably should be redone with new notarization.
but in the US every bank I have been involved with has a notary who will stamp stuff for free for customers. must be different up north.
bumpy
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PackerBacker
Montreal Qc Adirondacks,NY
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Bumpyroad wrote:why would new additional documents be required. couldn't you just include a statement about multiple trips in the first one?
bumpy
That's how it works at the borders around us. One notarized letter stating that the children can cross with the grandparents at any time. The kids need their own passport but no other documents.
Eric
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