What is the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program?

For parents, custody disputes can create a plethora of challenges that interrupt daily life and generate a tremendous amount of anxiety. If you are in the middle of a dispute over child custody in Jackson County, you should try to understand how the laws related to custody in the state of Missouri may affect your situation as well as your child’s future. Furthermore, you should be aware of other custody-related matters at the national level, such as the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program.

According to the U.S. Department of State, the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program aims to prevent the abduction of children younger than 18 years old. Under the program, the Department of State is able to reach out to the parent who is asking for a passport to be issued in their child’s name and confirm that the parental consent conditions have been satisfied. In fact, parents can voluntarily enroll their minor children in the program if they are worried about the child’s other parent attempting to abduct the child.

Sometimes, the Department of State bars minor children from receiving passports when their parents are involved in a custody dispute. Moreover, these standoffs can leave children uncertain or worried about their future and interfere with school. As a result, if you are already dealing with a custody dispute or anticipate one in the near future, it is important to do everything you can to avoid complications while focusing on securing an end result that is healthy for your children, if possible.