Notarization of papers during the adoption process can seem like a useless, time-consuming hassle if parents don't understand why they have to do it. It is primarily important during the international adoption process when foreign countries are reviewing documents. The foreign governing agency needs to know that the signatures on every document are all legitimate. This is designed to prevent adoption fraud or outright child trafficking.

When a notary signs and stamps (or seals) a document, they are attesting that the signature on the form actually belongs to the person who signed it. It does not necessarily mean that any of the information on the document is accurate - just that the signature belongs to the signer.

FOREIGN ADOPTIONS

For foreign adoptions, there are often more steps involved in showing the document is authentic. After the notary signs the document, the county or state that licenses the notary must verify that the notary whose name is on the document is a legit notary. After the county and/or state has certified the notary, then the document is authenticated by the consulate/embassy for that country. The authentication means that the state certificate is true and valid. Then the when the document is received in the foreign country, they accept the authentication of the consulate as verification that the document is original and that all certifying bodies are legitimate. As you go through the process, make sure every stamp or seal is clear. Smudged or blurred stamps that are difficult to read may not be accepted in the foreign country.

So the process is usually notary -> county (if needed) certification -> state certification -> consulate authorization.

There are courier services available to take your documents by hand to some state offices and most consulates.

DOMESTIC ADOPTIONS

Notarization does not have as big of a role in domestic adoptions, but it is still important. Any legal form, such as a consent or surrender of parental rights by a birth parent absolutely should be witnessed and notarized to show that the person who signed the form actually was the birth parent named on the document. Home studies and other reports are often notarized to verify the identity of the social worker who wrote them. Adoptive parents' signatures on placement agreements may also be notarized to verify they really are the people named to accept the child. In domestic adoptions, there is usually not a need for further certification of the notary.

These may seem like extra hoops for adoptive families to go through, but in the end these details will seem irrelevant when you have your little one in your arms.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Mitchell.
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