Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

Re: Parental Permission and Medical Consent

It is not necessary to have any documentation for the child to travel with you unless you are flying. If there is air travel involved, the airline may want the parents to sign authorization forms.

It is wise to have some form of authorization to provide the child with medical treatment in case the need should arise. The forms for doing so vary from one state to another.

A general permission form that I have devised and used in the past provides:

SP1, parent; SP2, parent; SP3, party given authority; SP4 party given authority; SP5, child

MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION

SP1 and SP2, parents of the minor child, SP5, hereby grant to SP3 and/or SP4 authorization to seek any diagnosis, treatment or other health care that may be necessary for said child, including X-rays, examination, anesthesia, surgical procedures, and any other procedures deemed necessary. All health care providers are hereby authorized to rely upon the consent of SP3 and/or SP4 with respect to the pursuit of any course of treatment reasonably necessary with respect to the child.

This authorization is provided in advance of any specific diagnosis or need for medical assistance so as to authorize SP3 and/or SP4 to consent to such procedures should they deem them necessary.

This authorization shall include authority for any health care provider to release the child to SP3 and/or SP4 upon the conclusion of any procedures related to the child.

The authorization shall remain effective from _________________ until ________________ unless revoked in writing prior to the conclusion of that period.

SP5 is in good health and has no known allergies.

Signed on _______, 2009.

________________________________ __________________________________

SP1 SP2

Father of SP5 Mother of SP5

STATE OF TEXAS

COUNTY OF DALLAS

On this date, SP1, a party personally known to me or who produced appropriate evidence of said party�s identity, personally appeared before me and acknowledged the execution of the foregoing document.

Acknowledged and signed on ____, 2009.

_________________________________

Notary Public, State of Texas

STATE OF TEXAS

COUNTY OF DALLAS

On this date, SP2, a party personally known to me or who produced appropriate evidence of said party�s identity, personally appeared before me and acknowledged the execution of the foregoing document.

Acknowledged and signed on _______, 2009.

_________________________________

Notary Public, State of Texas

Of course, you need to fill in the blanks with the proper names.

It is also wise to carry with you contact information for the child's parents so they can be notified and the treatment facility can contact them.