Getting a Passport for your Child? – You may need to see a Notary

Getting a Passport for your Child? – You may need to see a Notary

The neighborhood I live in has a Yahoo discussion group setup so that we can all keep in touch with each other on local happenings as well as share references for high quality trades people and local businesses. I’ve gotten to know quite a few of my neighbors because of this group and I’m always available to serve their mobile notary needs.

Today I received a call from one of my past clients asking if I could swing by to notarize a couple of documents for him so that his wife could get passports for their children. He and his wife recently got divorced and she is no longer living in the home. However, because of upcoming overseas travel plans in Spring 2012, they need to get a U.S. Passport for their two kids.

U.S. Department of State Passport Applications

Overseas kidnapping by divorced parents has risen dramatically over the last 10 years, so in an effort to control the situation where one parent is unaware of the other parent’s desire to take the child or children overseas, new passport regulations have been introduced. The Department of State & U.S. Passport offices now require that when applying for a minor child‘s passport, both parents must be present at the time of application, as well as the child or children.

Since this is often not possible, the Passport Agency has provided a work around via form DS-3053. When this form is signed by the absent parent and notarized, it provides proof of consent to the U.S. Department of State that both parents agree to the processing of the minor child’s passport application.

The DS-3053 is very straightforward and my client had most of it filled out upon my arrival. After witnessing him sign the document it only took a few minutes to complete the needed notarization.

Convenient Service At Your Home

I often tell my clients, you don’t need a notary public very often, but when you do they are often hard to find or to schedule. He was very glad that he could work from home on a Monday morning *and* get his documents notarized with little hassle or cost.

The passport form DS-3053 is just one of many standard documents that I see in my daily travels as a California Mobile Notary Public. If you have any questions about document notarization or need to schedule an appointment just call us at 444.444.4444 or email: info@bayareamobilenotary.com