The father of My 2yr old daughter wants to take her to Germany for Christmas to see his parents. He is not on her birth certificate and has not been established as her father through the court at all. I have yet to file for child support. He sees her pretty much every weekend and does overnights with her so she does know who he is. I want to tell him no though. I think this would be a very long flight for a 2yr old and the fact that the only documentation that we have showing him being her father is a paternity test result worries me. I feel that in another country with no parental documentation, if something was to happen, it would be a disaster.

I would love for her to be able to go sometime. But when she is older and her father and I have worked out more legal stuff.

Anybody have any thoughts?

I think you should follow your instinct on this.
I don't know what if anything but I am sure airlines require proof of how you are related to a baby and I am sure he would have to have other paperwork as well. Passport?

You need to get to court and get custody, visitation, support and all established.
I definitely would not okay it unless it is put right in the orders that he is to take her.

Seg1985

"When in doubt, don't". You sound like there is doubt in your post so I don't think it is a good ideal to allow your 2 year old to go overseas with her father. The United States Government has no power or jurisdiction to force the father to return your daughter if her father changes his minds and decides to stay over seas. I strongly believe if you can not go with your daughter then you should keep your daughter home for her security, safety, protection and welfare and most importantly your peace of mind.

Absolutely don't let her go until she is old enough (you decide) and everything is legal, routine, and vetted with Immigration well before the travel date. Don't risk unnecessarily that which is precious to you.

Tao

Hmm.

Is there a chance that you may join this trip?

Mothers usually have great instinct- so when your gut is telling something is not right then I suggest you listen to it.

Sarah