Douments, Tests, and more Documents

The past several months have been spent doing all the required forms, tests, and paperwork that is required for an adoption. Here is a brief summary of what is required:

• Numerous State and Federal Forms filled out
• Reference letters from four different people
• Certified Birth Certificates
• Financial letters from all banks listing balances and transactions for the past year
• Employment Letters
• Financial statements
• State Police clearance letters
• Marriage Certificates
• Medical Exams
• Fingerprinting by INS
• 1040 tax forms
• Power of Attorney forms
• Psychological Evaluation (Need to take MMPI test which has 550+ True/False Questions.)
• Photos
  
• Autobiography
• Home Study

I would have to say the big things are the last two. The autobiography is a 5-20 page autobiography that we each had to do. Mine was 6 1/2 pages long, Lara's was probably closer to 20 pages. They give you an outline on things to include (How were you disciplined, what was good about each of your parents, what was not good). I know my Mom would like to get her hands on mine but we all know that is never going to happen.

A lot of this paperwork is ultimately a requirement for the Home Study. The Home Study was a day long (1-7) meeting with a Social worker that we had on July 20. It is a lot of questions that are required by Guatemala and a lot of questions required by Minnesota. They include questions on how we would parent, on religion, on how we and the extended view adoption and international adoption specifically. It was definitely the longest I have talked in a long time. A lot of the questions they require the man to answer first so it was tough on me.

It is July 30th and we have just been told that the report from the Home Study is complete and they are ready to start certifying the dossier. I don't think we expected it this quickly but they are trying to rush everything with Guatemala because of possible issue. Anyway, most of the work is done now; now comes the waiting.