What to Include in Your Dossier for International Adoption

You have heard about a dossier in the spy movies, but you never realized what is in one, and what it takes to get one. You want to adopt a baby or child in an international adoption, and have just found out that you need one. First of all do not panic at the thought, and realize that it is just a part of the international adoption process. Learn about the cost, who can prepare one, and what will need to be included in it.

A very important fact you will need to consider is if you're a stickler for details, and do you have the patience and time to make one. Yes, you may either have one made for an approximate cost of $1200, or create your own dossier. Of course the benefit is that it will not cost you in preparation fees, but it will take time to do it. If you feel you're up for the job, and want to save a few dollars for the other costs of international adoption such as travel, then push forward, and get the ball rolling for adopting your child.

You will need to remember that depending on where you are adopting your soon to be international child from, will direct what forms you will need to have notarized certified, or apostilled, and then authenticated. If the country that you're adopting through follows the chain method of authentication then you will have to have not only to have the certified copy of documents, but the notary's seal will have to be reviewed by the government body of the state in which you reside. An apostille is verifying that the notary publics paperwork and seal is valid. Another seal and signature will attest to that fact for your documents. For apostilling of documents for your international adoption process, get in touch with your Secretary of State, and they can tell you what to do, remember the best policy in creating your dossier is to be full informed.

The following list is a general one that might or might not include everything that a particular country that you are adopting from requests from you. Also, on the other hand, you might not have to have everything that's included on this list.

• Medical health review by your doctor. It's required for both if parents are adopting in an international adoption.

• Financial information of all places that you do business with. This would include too totals on how much you owe to each one.

• Adoption agency petition application forms.

• Post adoption placement information and agreements signed by you. Different countries have certain requirements on how long updated information about your child must be done.

• Certified copies of marriage and birth certificates for couples and or singles.

• Certified copy of divorce if applicable to your adoption process.

• Certified copy of a death certificate if you have been married and a spouse died, or even if you are re-married, this might be requested too.

• Proof of residency and home ownership. This can be documented by having copies of your mortgage statements, or a rental agreement. A deed could be another good thing to include in your international adoption forms. Check to make sure this is permissible in your particular case.

• Statement of employment from your employer. If you're married both employer verifications is necessary.

• Certified home study verification.

• Licensure of your international adoption agency.

• State police background check.

• Passport verification your pictures.

• Pictures of your family and house.

• Letters of reference.

• Federal income tax return statements. Some countries require more than one year, so check into it by contacting the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) at www.irs.gov.

• Power of Attorney (POA) to the international adoption agency, or the local foreign governmental officials with which you're working.

A dossier isn't intimidating; it is just how you approach it. Don't let it stop you from adopting the child that you've always wanted. Get busy and start preparing one today, or contact a reputable service either online, or search through a phone book to get one. Better yet, talk with your international adoption agency, and they can help you out with your dossier.