Traveling Internationally & Taking Side Trip W/o Kids

My 8 year old son has traveled internationally with my dad. I did a power of attorney through Legal Zoom since I just needed something basic. You can grant full power or limit it to medical decisions, housing, etc and you can include an expiration date as well. I was not traveling with them, so I did limited control with an expiration date with my ability to revoke it at any time.

With you and your husband traveling, I would also make sure you have a will in place, just in case something happens to you on your side trip, that details out who will have custody of your daughter. Include in the power of attorney that upon your death, power would transfer to whoever would take custody of your daughter. Have copies of your health insurance information, passports, prescription information, etc. Keep a copy with you, a copy with someone at home, and a copy with the people you are staying with. You can register with the embassy when you get over there to give them your contact information, however it's usually not required if you are there less than a certain amount of time.

I wouldn't worry too much. The chances of something happening are slim.

I suggest that the American embassy over there could tell what is needed In their country to cover any eventuality. I don't know who you would contact here tho I'm sure there is such an office In the U.S. to help you.

you didn't mention Passports and birth certificates. I suggest you need to provide legal documents re: baby's care if something happens to you. I would talk with a lawyer about a will and what else is needed to provide for your daughter's care. You would need this even if you never left the states.

I would talk to an expert.

I am also unsure who that is. Your Pediatrician might know but you might need to call the US State Department or something.

Make sure that your cell phones work internationally. Take your phones to a local office of your carrier (for example, a Verizon store) and ensure that your phones work (not all do in Europe). If yours don't, ask for loaner phones or ask them for suggestions. Even if yours do, you often have to have the carrier enable international calling. Then when you arrive in Romania, program your inlaws' phones with your cell phone number (you often have to add extra numbers, like the country code and all that. Your cell phone carrier will help you determine what a local Romanian would have to call to reach your phone).

Also, inform your bank and the banks associated with any credit/debit cards that you'll be using that you're traveling internationally. Ensure that their cards will work in European ATMs. These days, you have to tell your banks and credit card companies that you'll be traveling or they'll assume someone has fraudulently obtained your card and you'll find yourself making long, painful calls to your bank to tell them that you do have your card and it's you trying to buy a coffee in France. It's called a vacation notice.

When you leave for France and Spain, you might inform the American Embassy that you are leaving a minor American citizen in the care of local Romanian citizens for a short time. And make sure your inlaws have the Embassy phone numbers.

I think O. parent needs to sign a consent form.
Call & ask your Pediatricians office to be safe.
And of course leave her medical card with them.

I spent 3 weeks in Europe, but my children stayed in the states. I did a limited POA for medical with my children. I also updated my will to cover guardianship. I made sure that a close friend knew where my will and POA was in case it was needed.

contact your local american embassy office and they can answer all these questions for you. sorry i don't have personal experience, but just want to add that this trip sounds dreamy and i'm so envious!
:) khairete
S.

Do you all have passports? You need passports, even for the children. And, make sure that your passports won't be inside of 6 months from expiration. In other words, you can't fly if your passport expires in 6 months, so look at your expiration dates on the passports and get them updated if they expire within six months of flying.

Do you have to have a visa to enter Romania? You need to make sure about that...

I would contact an attorney with experience in international law. You need documents that will have legal effect in the country where your daughter will be, not just in the US. You may need something that says you give permission for medical care and they may allow other family members to do that anyway. Their rules may be more strict than in the US, like the form might have to be the equivalent of notarized. You should also find out what would happen to your daughter if something happened to both of you while you are all abroad. Would your daughter's custody pass to her Romanian family, or would she return to the US? Legal Zoom isn't going to answer these things for you.