[dougz61]

My wife and I are looking at a Russian adoption adventure, and were wondering how much are past would come into play. I had two DWI's 21 years ago, and was treated for alcoholism twice in 1984, and finally quite throwing my life away in 1988. Since then I have had a steady good job, a Top Secret security clearance and not so much as a traffic ticket.
My wife, was married three times prior to me, and we have been married 9 years. Her husband before me died suddenly so it was not a divorce.

Are we going to have any problem adopting in Russia...or anywhere?

Thanks


Doug

[mdmom]

Doug- I'm not completely certain, but here's what we've been told: disclose all of your background and be willing to discuss the issues of concern. Talk to a few agencies (or even just one- if you are close to picking one) and see what they say. A good agency will tell you what issues will prohibit you from adopting from a certain country; and they should be able to tell you this before you apply or send them any money.

We'd been told that most any issue can be worked through as long as you were honest and could show that a changed had occurred.

Good luck to you!

[shnoogiepoo]

Doug, I think it would be worth your while to expunge your criminal history record. It has been long ago enough that you can get a copy of it from your state controller. Usually the state police headquarters. You will have to go in person with ID and it's a bit of a process. You can also just go directly to the courts where you were arrested and start expunging them there. (expunging is removing them from the record) often with a long period of being well behaved they will do so. but yes, be 100% honest wether they are expunged or not. you'll get burned by INS

[mdmom]

I wouldn't count on expunging the record as a way to alleviate your concerns about a prior criminial arrest. You have to have a local and federal fingerprint check and I beleive it would still show up on the federal one. (I think it also matters if you were convicted of DWI or simply arrested and pleaded down to something else) Just something to consider.

[clydster]

Ask agencies. We had problems similar to this. We had a lot of agencies refuse us but we finally found one that would take us.
Prior marriages were our biggest problem. They tend to frown on anything more than one previous marriage. The length of your current marriage should help you.
You can get a record expunged but it is much easier if there was no conviction. If there was a conviction (even of a lesser charge) you will need to convince the court to reopen the case and retry it.
Im sure you can find an agency to work with you. You just have to keep asking. The bigger agencies, like Frank, will probably not be an option.
Good luck