Met with the Attorney

Today we met with the adoption attorney. The great thing is that he has handled hundreds of disruptions and understands the unique situation they pose. He had done his homework and seemed to think that the special intrigue of this one was well within his scope, the others I had interviewed over the phone sounded entirely unsure about the legal entanglements.

He said that even though Sweetpea's family is currently residing in Singapore as American citizens he saw no reason that the adoption could not progress as a domestic adoption. He double checked everything and still it all seems good and can progress well. There is some question about the family not having the original birth certificate issued by China. This could pose a serious block to the adoption. I have to give this all over to God and trust Him.

The lawyer spoke so fast for the nearly 2 hours we were with him that I got writers cramp from trying to take notes. I kept having to interrupt him and say, going back to this point.....and again, back to this point......just to make sure that I had a clear understanding and was writing it down correctly.

He will next draw up a packet of legal papers for Sweetpea's family to sign giving us guardianship of her and legal rights for her medical treatment here in the US. We will have them sign and notarize these papers when we travel to Singapore in early October to meet her. Then they will also have the preliminary adoption paper work to fill out giving consent to adopt Sweetpea as well as a lot of other state mandated forms such as testifying that she is not Native American, and giving their medical background but this would only be applicable if they were biological parents to Sweetpea, which they are not.

When we return to the US with Sweetpea and give the lawyer all the signed paperwork he will then have 45 days to file with the court our petition with the intent to adopt her. They will then take up to 3 months to set the first hearing at which the parents have a right to appear but in this case the family will not choose to travel back from Singapore and will handle all the paperwork via FedEx. At that first hearing if all is found good then their parental rights will be severed.

Then another 6 months will be waited out with visits by the social worker and a final report made to our homestudy and the hearing for the finalization of her adoption will take place.

It is a much longer, more tedious road to adoption than we have travelled before. We have always arrived back on these here shores with the adoption finalized and only post placement reports back to China to worry about.

We are stepping out in faith. We feel like we are flying by the seat of our pants on this one. Nothing is so sure and yet we feel compelled by the Father heart of God for this orphan to reach out and create a place in our family for her forever. We pray we are not ahead of God in this endeavor and we cherish any prayers on our behalf pleaded before our gracious and loving Saviour.

"Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you
do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry."
Exodus 22:22-23