The Mountain of Adoption Paper Work

Richard and I are now plowing though the mountain of paper work required to proceed in the adoption process.

We have already had our fingerprint cards done for our crimal records check through the FBI and the NM state police, but the check itself takes 6-8 weeks to come back. We have filled out and had notarized the Pre-placement Study Agreement, Release of Information and Affirmation Form, Affidavit of Disclosure, Child Abuse Screen Form and Fee Agreement Contract. We have verified our employment, copied our 1040 and W2's, completed the Financial Profile Form, made copies of our birth certificates, marriage license, and my divorce decree, completed the Child Description Form, the Openness and Ethnic Issues Form, verified our pets vaccinations, filled out the Adoptive Family Profile, made a Fire Exit Plan and completed the Guardianship Care Plan. I have completed my autobiography, but Richard is still working on his.

Tomorrow he is going down to the court house to get our Local Police Records released so we can prove we don't have one. Yah, that's a fun one...having to prove a negative.

We still have to have our medical histories completed by our doctor, which includes laboratory findings for a urinalysis, tuberculin skin test, blood count, serology and HIV test.

We are also in the process of doing a home safety checklist, which includes: making sure all smoke detectors work, having 2 fire extinguishers (one in the house and one in the garage), installing outlet covers and child proof latches, posting our emergency numbers and the fire exit plan, buying locks for our outside gate and putting all chemicals, cleaners and medicines under lock and key.

Then we can do the fun part, which is putting together a letter to the birthmom and an album of our family, that will be shared with the potential birthmothers.

Next, we go through individual and couple interviews and a home visit.

After that we wait to be matched and find an attorney.

At this point the process could go real FAST or real SLOW. There's no telling. We've been told that we have a lot of things going for us that make us great prospects. The fact that my husband is adopted, I'm a teacher, we're Christian, we haven't been able to conceive on our own, we have pets and have very involved and supportive families, should make us very "sellable."

Once a birthmother chooses us, we can meet the mother if we choose. We want this to be an open adoption, but meeting the birthmother is not something we are comfortable with. We are going to exchange letters and pictures (about 3 a year). Once she delivers we can take the baby home.

Then the 48 hour hold starts. The birthmother has 48 hours to change her mind or to relinquish her rights. If everything goes well, we become the child's guardians and the attorneys will file the petition to adopt papers with the courts. The minimum wait on this is 90 days, in which time we have a few more visits with the adoption agency and Children, Youth and Families Department, to be sure everything is going well. Usually though this part can take 4 to 6 months.


Finally, we will go to court before a district court judge, he will sign the adoption decree and issue us a new birth certificate with our names as the legal parents.



We are very excited, scared, nervous and anxious! At least we feel like we are moving forward now, however slowly. We are also in the process of decorating the nursery. I've painted, bought the main pieces of furniture and I'm enjoying looking for baby stuff at yard sales on the weekends.

God has a certain little boy (Samuel) or girl (Sara) planned for us, we just have to wait for that perfect time and only God knows that. "Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you." Jeremiah 1:5


We'd appreciate any advice or prayers you can send our way.