15 year old girl, separated parents, father won't allow her to travel overseas

My friend has a 15 yr old goddaughter in Poland who lives with her mother. The father never had anything to do with his daughter and moved to Australia some years ago.

The mother hasn't been able to get the father's parental rights struck off (for reasons I'm unsure of).

The father has promised a few times that he would see a notary in Australia but it's not really surprising that he's simply not bothered to do it.

The goddaughter would love to come to the UK for a short holiday but can't apply for a passport until both parents sign for her application, is this correct ?

She's too young for an ID card so is there anyway in which she can travel overseas ?

The only way would be through the court, as far as I'm aware?

Something isn't right if the court system won't allow it - he's left the country and has no contact, so it should be a formality. Maybe the mother doesn't want her to travel?

Rent the movie, "Taken".


Aha, therein lies information you are not privy to.


Indeed, there is more to this than meets the eye.

No, I know that under Polish law the father has to sign for a kid's passport. If he is willing, this can be done at the embassy in Australia.

I really don't think parental responsibility/rights can be "struck off"

He can relinquish his rights as a parent, thus giving sole custardy to the mother, therefore enabling her to take whatever action she has to with regards to her daughter without seeking permission off the father, or thats how it is in the UK.

Does he still need to pay his CSS if they both agree to this?

Not sure...Probably ;0) Whilst he has no legal rights, he has a moral obligation to financially support the child

Go to some legal office, inform yourself, get things done..........