Overkill however if you want to [cover all the bases](http://traveltips.usatoday.com/forms-need-son-travel-someone-else-108821.html): > **Consent to Travel** > > In the United States, children do not usually need to carry a written > consent to travel. If the courts are involved in the child’s life, his > ability to travel might be affected. Both parents should sign a > notarized consent to travel. You can download a form online or create > your own. Specify the child’s full name and address, the names and > addresses of both parents, the names and addresses of the adults > traveling with the child, the authorized destination countries and the > dates of the trip. > > **Medical Consent** > > A medical consent form gives the accompanying adult the right to > authorize medical treatment for your child while he is away. Some > people combine a medical consent form with a general consent to travel > form. > > **Temporary Power of Attorney** > > If the trip will include activities such as parasailing or dog > sledding that require parental consent, consider signing a temporary > power of attorney. This is a legal document that gives the child’s > adult travel companion the right to make virtually all parenting > decisions for the specified period of time. A temporary power of > attorney must be notarized.