Travel Consent - Help

Have been through loops this morning, spoke to travel operator, listened to US embassy convuluted automated visa and immigrations system to no avail and tried to search their website...even called my local magistrate which was pointless. Sooo hoping one of you guys can help ..situation:

Married to US citizen (who lives here) travelling to states on holiday to visit his family.
Taking our baby (who will enter on his US passport) AND my two kids from my previous marriage who live with me.

I have learned I will need a travel consent form for my two kids from a previous marriage as they are travelling with one parent only, from the non travelling parent. So using one of many templates on line, have prefilled my ex's contact details pending his signature, BUT my question is ..is it a legal requirement that this be notairsed? Or will the letter with full contact details suffice?

My local court didnt even know this was a requirement for travel to us!?!?!? Help

We are taking my stepkids to the US shortly and we have taking them other places as well and never heard of a letter of consent?

If this is true then I guess I am glad I read this.

Yep I travelled to France earlier this year unaware and wasnt asked for nothing. Equally my ex just got them back from Portugal with no letter from me. I understand its a US / Canada & Mexico thing to prevent child abduction. When you search on line it comes up a lot, but I need to understand does it apply to UK kiddies going into the states....I would of thought a signed letter would suffice, not keen on jumpinmg through legal loops and paying a solicitor just to go on bloomin holiday!!

I took my, now 16 year old son,  from the US to visit DF in London last February and we went to Ireland for a few days, the IA at Dublin airport grilled me and my son about whether or not he was actually my son and If I had permission from his father to take him out of the country (US). The fact that he is a six foot five 15 year old and old enough to speak for himself saved me from being taken  back to the little room, I think! The IA told me I really should have had a letter of consent. Funnily enough, didn't get asked any questions at Heathrow! Though years ago we went to Canada for a vacation and I did think to bring a letter of consent and a copy of the custody paperwork, never thought to bring them on the UK vacation, only because he was a six foot five 15 year old! I didn't have it notarized though, the letter just stated the father gave permission for the dates and country of travel with his signature and had no problems at the border. Hope this helps!

Great that helps LOADS Minty...thanks. Seems sensible to me, was worried we'd get all that way and not be allowed in   

Well considering we all have the same name and they are old enough to talk lol I think we will be alright

I took my, now 16 year old son,  from the US to visit DF in London last February and we went to Ireland for a few days, the IA at Dublin airport grilled me and my son about whether or not he was actually my son and If I had permission from his father to take him out of the country (US). The fact that he is a six foot five 15 year old and old enough to speak for himself saved me from being taken  back to the little room, I think! The IA told me I really should have had a letter of consent.

This is my big fear. I traveled with my son in Malaysia and India (without my husband) and was really worried about not having a letter. Mine's only a year and doesn't talk yet! We are going to Europe this fall, so I'd better get on this!

Chillywilly, it might be a good idea to do a letter, just for peace of mind if nothing else and the 'just in case' scenario,  even though my own child looks like an adult, we still had such a hassle at the immigration desk in Ireland, I was seriously getting worried that we would be denied entry and even worse go through hours of questioning until they figured out that he was my child and I was allowed (as per the custody agreement) to travel with him wherever I wanted! I was frantically thinking would I be able to get through to someone at home that would be able to fax the papers over to Ireland to prove all of the above! I am taking him to the UK next winter and will definitely have a letter and the custody papers with me for that trip so  I don't have to go through that again!
Kashuna, glad I was able to give advice for once, instead of always asking for it here on the boards, haha!

I just travelled MAN-JFK with my kids saturday, left my husband at home and the IO who directed me to the right actual desk (where they stamp you) just said "are these yours kids?" and sent me to the IO with the stamps. I have travelled back and forth lots alone with my kids and never had a letter, nor have I been asked for one.

I should have said, I have a different last name then my children.

Yeah I meant to say I will type one up and have her sign it. It would just be easier to have it.

thanks!

Yes, it's better to have it and not need need it, rather than need it and not have it!