How to Prepare an Adoption Dossier

Your journey toward a successful international adoption requires a stop along the way: almost every country requires you to compile an adoption dossier during the application process. A dossier includes a variety of documents you must collect and notarize, certify, apostille and authenticate in order to move on to the next step in the adoption. By approaching this process in a thorough and organized manner, this stop on your journey can be a short one.

Instructions

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      Contact your adoption agency to familiarize yourself with the exact requirements of your child̵7;s country. Most require the same documents: birth and marriage certificates; employment and medical information; financial statements; divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable; background check results; proof of residence; letters of reference; photos of you, your home or family; and your home study. Some countries may have additional requirements, so be sure to check carefully -- your adoption process can be unnecessarily stalled if your dossier is incomplete or you do not follow the directions precisely.

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      Gather the necessary county, state, and national seals of authentication on all forms. These include notaries on a local level, in which a notary public certifies that you have signed an original document in her presence. Be sure to check on when the notary̵7;s commission expires, as most countries require the notary certification to be valid for at least a year past the date of notarization. Some documents will need a state seal, called a certificate or apostille, from your state̵7;s secretary of state office to certify your notary public̵7;s signature, seal and license are all valid. Finally, you will need to add your approved forms from the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services and any other U.S. form requested on your country̵7;s list.

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      Stay organized with a system that works for you so you don̵7;t lose paperwork. Professional organizer Kristin Mastromarino of Livable Solutions Professional Organizing in Guilford, Connecticut, suggests using a binder with pockets for durability and portability when organizing documents. Try creating color-coded tabs for the various documents you have or their status, then move them to the back pocket when they have an official seal of authentication.

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      Hire a company that specializes in assembling dossiers if you are overwhelmed or unorganized and you can afford it. While many people are able to compile a dossier with time, patience and organization, you may be feeling a great deal of stress just considering the process. Ask your adoption facilitator for a reference to a company you can hire to do the legwork for you. Check the Better Business Bureau before hiring any company to ensure you are dealing with a reputable business.

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