[MiniSnowta]

Hello everyone~

I need some help, if you don't mind!!! Our daughter will be coming home on an IR3, but we would like to re-finalize here in MN, when we bring her home. Do we need to get an international adoption attorney....or is this something that our Agency should help us with? Just curious

Also, Becky if you're out there....please help!!! All of our docs for our dossier were signed by notaries with commissions expiring 1/31/05. Do you think this will be an issue, if you think it may be what should we do?

Thanks in advance to everyone for your help!!!

[becky]

Actually...I just spoke with Rudy about this very issue and he says that the notaries expiring is NOT a problem. As long as they were current when they signed the document this should not be an issue.

Now...keep in mind that if PGN wants to be picky, they are going to be picky...but a good attorney will fight a kick out over something like that.

[foxl]

Then, how come this was such a burning issue, last spring and summer?

[becky]

I don't think its ever really been a burning issue. As I said...if you have an attorney who is on top of things he/she will go right back to the reviewer and say "this notary was current when she signed the document and that is all that matters".

Of course if you can get a notary that is a year out, it's the best thing to do...but I would absolutely not go and redo a whole bunch of dossier documents because it really may not be needed.

[alyssa&avery]

We were faced with this same issue last year. Our doc's were notarized in December 2003 and January 2004 and the notary commission expired 01/31/04. I honestly didn't notice it until our doc's were already in Guatemala. We sailed through PGN with no problems. Of course, like Becky said if they want to be picky they will be but I think you should be okay. Hope this helps your worries a little bit.

Lori

[jungbluj]

Dear All: Here is some good news I just found out that will help with the financial burden of adoption. Starting in 2005, the adoption tax credit to be applied to your taxes is increasing to $10,630 from $10,160.

[foxl]

Excellent news!

[MiniSnowta]

for responding. What about the adoption refinalization question...do we need to get an atty. or should our agency help us out? I have no clue on this part...

Thanks again for all your help and support!!!!

[alyssa&avery]

Your agency will probably not be able to help you with the readoption and/or name change. Depending on the laws in your state you may be able to do it yourself. We're in FL and hired and attorney to take care of everything. It's a simple process and in the grand scheme of things wasn't too expensive. Maybe someone else from MN will chime in with specifics.

Good luck!!
Lori

[crathke]

Depending on the contract with your agency, they may or may not help you with the readoption. In MN it's not that complicated and we managed ours without an attorney. You will need your post-placement home study, (done 90 days after your child comes home) as well as some other documentation (I can dig mine out if you need specific form names)-- a petition to adopt, a name change/application for MN birth certificate, etc--file the forms with your home county, schedule a hearing and that's it.(well, and pay the fee--there's *always* a fee..we Do live in MN, after all!) Our hearing took all of 10 minutes in Anoka County.

I'd be happy to help you through the process if your agency isn't able to.

[JoelPapi]

Get ahold of the person in the Juvenile Courts who handles adoptions in your county. This will make things go much smoother... As they will be able to tell you which forms you need and what fees you need to pay. You don't need an attorney,,,

Joelpapi

[swans105]

I am in MN. Our agency has given us a packet with the necessary documents but I'm still not sure what to fill out when We are still waiting to have the post-placements visits done. We just applied for a SS# even though we will have to do a name/status change later.

marcie

[MiniSnowta]

Thanks again for your help!

Happy new year to everyone...

[acstrasser]

I live in Minnesota and my son came home on an IR-3. I just finished the readoption process and it wasn't complicated at all.

Feel free to contact me if you need to know the details of what you need to do. My agency helped me but I kept all of the information and I don't think it'd be that hard to complete everything on your own.

Ann