Paperwork...need support

KGJacob · 01-04-2003, 11:35 PM

Can anyone out there that has adopted internationally offer any advice??? Our home study is done. INS fingerprints - done. Physicals - done. Now, we have to get all the employment and health and all these forms notarized, certified, and authenticated.

I don't think we will ever be able to get it all done. There is no public notary at my doctor's office. My employer is in a different state, so I see no way for me to get that one certified, our pastor is in a different county, so we have to have a notary from that county and there aren't any listed in the phone book.

Can anyone offer me any guidance. I can't believe we have come this far only to hit these obstacles. To top it off, I work full time and because the company is in financial trouble, they have suspended all vacation days. So I can't just take a day off to try to get this done.

Sometimes I think there is a force out there trying to prevent us from becoming parents...is that possible?

thanks for listening.

Calantha · 01-04-2003, 11:55 PM

We haven't gotten that far yet, but I've already obsessed over it a lot! You should be able to find a notary at just about any bank. Maybe ask your doctor to take his letter in the next time he goes to the bank? Employment letter.. does that one need notarized only or..? I can't remember right now... but anyways, again, you should be able to find a notary at any bank or currency exchange if you have one of those nearby too.
I did a search once about notaries and found out that there are actually "mobile notaries".. of course you have to pay them for their time, but they will actually travel to the places and notarize things for you. Should come up on a google search.
Try asking around at your church. We were surprised to find out we had a couple resident notaries there.
Stay calm, you'll get it all done and you'll be an excellent mommy

P.S.
I totally JUST remembered that I had intended to respond to a PM that you sent me like a MONTH ago! I am SOOO sorry! *runs off to respond!*

lemondog · 01-06-2003, 11:42 AM

The paperwork can be overwhelming, can't it?

<<There is no public notary at my doctor's office.>>

Look in the yellow pages for a Traveling Notary. Take him/her with you to the doctor, and they can notarize the signature right there. People do it all the time for adoptions.

<<My employer is in a different state, so I see no way for me to get that one certified>>

Do you have a local supervisor/manager that can write the letter? If not, it will have to be certified/apostilled in the employer's state. Remember, some states require county certification before certifying/apostilling. If you must get the letter from out of state, your best bet is to call that state's Sec. of State office and inquire about their certifying/apostilling procedures. If the do require a county certification, the I would ask the employer to notarize the letter. Once you receive it, overnight it to the County Clerk of that county for certification. When you get it back, overnight it to the Sec. of State for certification/apostilling. Yes, it may cost a pretty penny, but I know several people who have done this with no problems. By overnighting instead of mailing, you are better able to track the packages should they get lost.

<<our pastor is in a different county, so we have to have a notary from that county and there aren't any listed in the phone book. >>

Your notary can come from anywhere in the state. So even if your pastor is in a different county, you can still hire a traveling notary from YOUR county to notarize his signature. That way if you need county certification, you can deal with your own county clerk's office.

(((Hugs))) I know how overwhelming it is. But rest assured it WILL get taken care of. Since you can't take time off work, ask DH if he can help out. If not, then take a sick day if you must. Or a day without pay if at all possible. And let us know if you have any other questions.

JenJen78 · 01-06-2003, 11:44 AM

Hi KGJacob,
I'll try to answer as many of your questions as I can. I'm about to exit Family Court right now, so I've already done all that you are talking about.

First of all take a deeeeeepppppp breathe, and take it one step at a time. You'll get too stressed trying to do it all at once

My DR. didn't have a notary either, but he called a lady he knew that was one, and she agreed to stamp it if I brought it by. I've also heard of others that got a traveling notary to come to the DR.'s office to notarize.

My employer is in a different state too, so I had to get my employment letter from the office, and take it to the county clerks office for certification. If you're not close enough to hand deliver it, you can mail it, and just put in a note asking them to certify it. Include a stamped envelope for them to return it to you in.

As for the pastor, I didn't have to have anything from my pastor, but I would say that you could use the same traveling notary, I don't think it matters what county, because my notary was in one county, and all my papers from another.

Don't worry, you'll be fine. If you need anymore help, please feel free to email me at prayer4baby@yahoo.com

Good luck & God Bless,

KGJacob · 01-06-2003, 07:15 PM

Thanks for all your responses. I knew I could count on you for support.

JenJen, how excititing that you are almost out of family court. I'm guessing you have your bags packed just waiting for the call.

Thanks everyone. I am going to keep plugging along.

JenJen78 · 01-07-2003, 10:28 AM

KGJacob,
I do have my bags packed, (at least the baby's bag), but I won't be traveling for a few more months. I have to enter and exit PGN first, and a few other little details.

Good luck to you on your adoption. Keep us all posted

ScrapbookChick · 01-08-2003, 03:54 AM

Boy, does your dilemma sound familiar! I thought we were the only ones who had twenty different states and counties to get documents through!

DH and I were living in Washington, DC and had to get documents from South Dakota, New York, Minnesota & Virginia. Our Pastor was across the state line in Virginia, and we brought a traveling notary to him.

And then, our physicals were done at the Base Clinic--where not only is there no notary, but post 9/11 I couldn't get a traveling notary who would go through the hassle of going through security to get on the base. The base legal office had notaries, but there were two problems--most were active duty and therefore couldn't be authenticated and two, they weren't allowed to leave the building. I thought for sure this was a "sign" from above to give up. But, in desparation, I called the base legal commander in tears and explained that the only thing holding me up from my ten-year journey to a baby was the matter of his civillian notary coming three minutes away to the base clinic. He had her meet me there the next day. Sometimes all it takes is a few phone calls and some explainations.

You are going to FINE. This can be done!

There is a lady who lives in the DC area who does adoption document courier work and goes by the name "The Assistant Stork". Her webpage is: www.asststork.com

On the site are links on there to other couriers in different states--quite often other adoptive mommies who know the drill, and do the service for those who work full time.

Also there is a page with links that has addresses and phone numbers, instructions and fees for all the different State Authentications offices. Quite often you can do it yourself by Express mail. (Which is what I did. It cost an arm and a leg, but not compared to traveling there or hiring someone to do it for me.) Compared to the notary situation on base, my out-of-state document authenticating was almost easier, lol. In each mailer I put in a check, a short letter explaining what I needed done and a self-addressed and pre-paid return mailer.

I was really happy with the USPS because it was so easy to just buy the Express mail stamps and have a stack of the cardboard mailers until I needed them. Rather than having to deal with FedEx or UPS. But with you working, they may be easier for you?

Good luck!

KGJacob · 01-08-2003, 09:09 PM

Thanks for your words of wisdom Melissa. I had today basically off work so I planned to get a bunch of this done. I have one out of state document (about 50 miles away), so I figure, 1 hour there, get it certified and an hour back. No such luck.

I went there, and the notary was using an old bogus stamp. So I had to drive an hour in a different direction to get another employment certificate. An hour back to the state office and they tell me that, though they are open 'til 4:30 and that it was it says on the internet, they don't take documents after 3!!!!!!!!!!!

So, for my whole day off I got ZERO documents certified today.

The way my luck is going today, I don't figure there is any reason to even check my lottery tickets tonight.