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Hi,
Newbie, and first post.
Looking for some advice.
My ex wife is asking me to sign consent forms so she can apply for our children to have Australian passports - she is Australian so I understand they have dual nationality in any case.
My concern is that she might be lining up to take them back to Australia for good, as I also have suspicions (supported in part) that she has applied for an Australian bank account. I know Australia has signed the Hague convention so arguably she cannot do this without my permission, but I also understand she can apply to court even with just British passports and possibly win.
I am uneasy about the way in which its been done (I was handed an envelope with a single page blank form to sign with the suggestion the kids passports needed renewing) and I wondered if I'm missing anything. I dont see the need for the children to have two passports, although she may be simply trying to make herself feel better?
Some other information that might (not) help:
Three years ago she was a single mum, working and studying, and was not able to cope with the kids and work and study and a new relationship (with whom she is now married), and basically threatened handing the kids to SS unless I took them on - I was (and still am) living with my new partner of almost 5 years now and her two kids. Of course we took them on, moved to bigger house, bought a bigger car etc. Ex decided she wanted my kids back and took me to court last year and she won - nasty business! Since then the relationship has broken completely and communication is strained at best - especially when she suggests she has no obligation to let me talk to the kids on the phone.
I understand that is irrelevant to the current situation but I wanted to try and add some context, albeit no doubt biased as we all are.
Any help or advice greatly appreciated
Thanks in advance
I don't know the position on the passports, so it may well be worth contacting the home office and also the Australian embassy to see what they say.
Since your ex got a residence order, it will state that she cannot remove the children from the country for more than 30 days without the permission of the court, so I'd say that you are as protected as you can be in this respect, but it's worth having a word with the children's legal centre on the practical aspects of this.
Thanks actd. I'll see if I can call them today. I just have a nervous feeling about it all
Hi Bric,
Did you call the Childrens Legal Centre or would you like me to ask them to pop by this thread and give you some advice ?
Gooner
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