My family is traveling to Belize with my daughters 13 year old freind. Is any special documentation from her parents other than passport needed to enter or exit U.S or Belize. If so exactly what is reguired

Mango

We have been in similar situations in our travels and we were required to have an authorization letter (stating the child has permission to travel out of the country), signed by the minors parents or guardian, and it had to be properly notarized. I might suggest checking with either the airline or immigration. The airlines should be aware of this not uncommon situation and be able to advise you.

Nothing required in Belize. Just valid passport.

Thought so. Once we got out of the US, no one needed to see anything other than the passport.

i wouldn't leave home with someone else's child, and not have that letter from her parents...you just never know.

We just had a situation....
A couple came to Belize with their 16 year old and her friend. The father is a State Supreme Court Judge who was advised by the US State Department that you must have a notorized letter from BOTH parents that it is OK for the child to travel to a specific place on specific dates with the names of the adults. (Apparently this is to stop the kidnapping, particularly by non-custodial parents).
They were also advised to have on that notorized statement phone numbers in case of emergency, as well as parental approval for any medical care that is given, and also to list any allergies, blood type, etc etc.
Luckily, they did have this information, as the teenager fell and had to have a cast put on her wrist, and have a few stitches.
I have travelled to Canada with my nephew and always had a medical release and on my last trip with him, we were stopped at the border. We had a letter from his parents, AND I had some great contact people at customs, so we were able to enter the country.
It's better to be safe than sorry.

Thanks, Ibanole, for the information. I will be traveling with my 15-year-old niece to San Pedro next month, and this wasn't mentioned anywhere in the airline regulations. In my niece's situation, her mother has full custody. When she got the passport, she was advised to bring papers showing custodial rights and the father would not have to sign for her to obtain the passport. So are you saying that her father also has to sign something approving the trip? Who will require this? Immigration?

No one requires it but it may be a good idea in this day of Police states...er, I mean heightened security. The medical info & release form for emergency treatment is a good idea.

Appreciate the advice and will come prepared with letter in hand. If anyone is interested for later travel, I will be happy to post something about my experiences with immigration.