We're just now filling out our paperwork and we needed 4 references (no blood relatives)...
After reading the comments here, I think we picked good!
Our problems were that we've only been married 3 years and I moved 1700 miles to marry hubby, so the people who knew him all his life didn't know me until 4 years ago and the same with me...Also, like so many here, we socialize mostly with his extended family!
What we did was:
One of my best friends (known me 23 years), she has 2 kids, fell in love with my hubby after meeting him, is great with references, has been extremely supportive through our years of infertility and also feels that we would be wonderful parents!
Hubby's Best Friend He is a dad & granddad now...he's been to our house (helped us move both times actually) and sees how we are with our furry babies!
Our Pastor He thinks we walk on water too...well, ok, not really, but he really likes us! I'm building a web page for our church and we've gone out with him and his wife several times!
One of my Captains I work at a police department and actually, one of my captains suggested that he be a reference. he and I have to travel together every 3 months and we've talked about our trying to conceive and about adoption alot. He knows my hubby and has a strong admiration for him (after all, he has to LIVE with me!) Besides, he knows that I can make his life miserable if he says anything bad about me!!!
Kat