But have you ever been adopting internationally and needed something (or MANY things) notarized for your dossier? Because its not the same thing. Its intense.
You see, there are some rules. For example, NOTHING may be crossed out. And the notary needs to sign and put the date of signature. And the stamp needs to be 100% readable with no smudges. And their expiration date needs to be lightyears away from today. And the stamp cannot be overtop of any other print, because obviously its hard to read.
So, you might be thinking.... "Well, Mackenzie, if you know all these rules, why don't you just make sure they are all followed when you get something notarized?"
I do my best. I really do. But you would be surprised how annoyed people get with you. Like at the Sheriff's department, when you ask to have your background check redone. They were NOT fans of me. I had a list of 3 things they needed to change, and I know it might have been annoying for them, but I couldn't help it! They asked me a million questions and acted like all the other families who ever came in for adoption background checks were not this difficult. And most notary publics take their responsibilities pretty seriously. So when you start to list off exactly how they need to do it, they are not huge fans.
And then there are the people who need to get their OWN signatures notarized. Like the doctor, or people who wrote recommendation letters for us. I had to give my mom hers back twice. The first time the notary signed and stamped on a separate page and stapled it together. How could that EVER be okay? And the second time the notary crossed something out. The third one looks great :) But my poor mom! I feel so bad giving it back to her again and again.
Before this adoption, I think the only thing I ever got notarized was my teaching certificate. And that was a piece of cake.
I want to go back to those piece of cake notarizing experiences :)
5 comments:
we were soooo blessed to have a great notary. he did look at us like we were crazy in the beginning... but he got used to us! i have no idea what they all say after we leave though! one day we walked into the bank (he works for our credit union) and another guy recognized and said, "you're the adoption people right? you need dejuan?" so i guess we had a reputation :-) it'll be over soon and then the next thing will be referral paperwork! but that'll be so stinkin' exciting it won't matter!
UGH! I don't miss all that paperwork! When I gave paperwork to a notary, I'd have a list of instructions with it, highlighted and everything. You are right, they are not fans when you tell them how to do their job. Handing off your COMPLETED dossier is such a great feeling, but you'll be bored for a couple weeks once its done. Haha! Hang in there! :)
We also have a wonderful notary- whom we now know on a first name basis! I am SO ready to have our dossier APPROVED!!! (hopefully in the next couple weeks)and be finished with all the paperwork!
yup, the only thing I have had notarized was my teaching certificate...and I think something for Eddie...but I can't remember. Luckily my friend, tammi, had her license back then!
Ugh is right! Do it right now so you don't have to re-do it later like we did! Only one, plus a document had to be worded differently and then notarized, so I guess two. And the same thing happened to mom (with the separate page and staple)... RIDICULOUS!!! Fortunately a friend at church is a notary and made life MILLION times easier for us.
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