Hi there If your ex is in agreement, you can apply to the court for a residence order in your favour by consent. This will give you the right to take your son out of the country for up to month without getting consent. I have not known parental responsibility to be suspended by consent but you may wish to explore that with your solicitor. You say that he disappeared when your son was 5. It may be that at some point he 'sees the light' and wants to have contact and will therefore not be content to agree to this. If you are in contact with him now, I advise that you explore your options with him and your solicitor. Q. My son is going through the Courts for a 50/50 shared residence order. He already has a shared residence order for 2.5 nights week l and 3.5 nights week 2. His children have asked if they can have more time with dad. Two things are not working out for my son with the existing order - firstly his day off is a Sunday and he only has them until 12 every other Sunday. Secondary no holidays were incorporated into the order. That is the background as to why he has applied to have the order amended. He has a solicitor. His ex. wife is vehemently opposed to any change unless it is less contact. She does not talk to my son and any e-mails or texts go through