[Sumerce]

I have 2 very important questions:

1- Which regional did you get your child from?
2- Which office are you trying to fax?

Here is the way we have been getting files that people forgot to ask for while they were in Colombia.

First, you do not need to send a fax.
Second, you will need to write a letter which is signed by both you and your spouse requesting your child's file. IN the letter you must state the following information:

1. Child's original name
2. CHild's new name
3. Place and date of child's birth
4. Place and date of adoption
5. Child's file # with ICBF
6. Date child entered ICBF care
7. Civil registry # and place where child is registered.
8. A legalized photocopy of the Sentencia -_VERY VERY IMPORTANT

You must write the letter in Spanish and have it notarized and apostilled.

Then, you simply need to give someone power of attorney. YOU DO NOT NEED FOR THIS PERSON TO BE A LAWYER. I know this for a fact as I have gotten someone else's history for them when they gave me a notarized and apostilled power of attorney - and I did it for FREE. These documents need to be taken to the regional office where you picked up your child. You will be required to pay for the photocopies of the file -- and depending on the length -- this could run you $5 -$25 dollars. In my case, I paid for the photocopies and my friend paid me back. I happened to pick up her file while I got my son's file. NO PROBLEMS. I just showed the letter and power of attorney. That was it. No problems. This was at the Bogota regional office.

And I know for a fact you don't need a lawyer (NO ONE IN THE COLOMBIAN GROUP HAS NEEDED ONE) if you go there to pick it up yourself. You still need the Letter and the Sentencia though.