1.22.06 - What's Next?

So now that we've started getting the word out there, the question "What's next?" keeps coming up.

We've got to gather A LOT of documentation. This is takes a lot of time- you can see why this next step takes 2-4 months alone! Ok, here goes:

Personal Information

• Certified copies of birth certificates for you, your spouse, and any children already living in your home;
• Certified copies of adoption decrees for any adopted children already living in your home;
• Certified copies of your marriage certificate;
• Certified copies of any death certificates for former spouses; and
• Certified copies of any divorce decrees for you and/or your spouse.

Financial Information

• Verification of employment on company letterhead (even if you are self-employed);
• Income verification (usually copies of your federal tax returns for the last three years);
• Proof of life insurance, including the names of beneficiaries;
• Proof of health insurance;
• Verification of all monetary assets on institution letterhead (including checking account, savings account, 401k balance, stocks, money market accounts, mutual funds, etc.);
• Debt information (balances on your credit cards, cars, house, etc.);
• Mortgage or rent information (amount of monthly payment and amount of equity you have if you own your home).

Other Information You Will Need for Your Homestudy

• Results of a recent physical exam;
• Results of a criminal background check;
• Public health inspection if your home has a septic system;
• Fire safety inspection;
• Letter from your veterinarian stating that all your pets are healthy and current on their vaccinations;
• Photographs of you, your spouse, and any children already living in your home;
• Photographs of the front, back, and inside of your home;
• Copy of any previous homestudy (if applicable);
• Written references.

Wow!, huh? That's what we say too. The bummer thing is that when we go to complete our dossier, we're going to have to get a lot of the same documentation all over again. The thing is, for the dossier, it all has to be notarized! That means real certificates- not just copies. It also means standing in line downtown to get them all notarized. Ugh!

Ah well, such is life I suppose.

So that's the next step in a nutshell after handing in our application.

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