We have a court date!

We received word right around noon today that our court date in ET is Dec. 2nd. This is the step that has to happen in order for E to legally become our daughter on the ET side. Several things have to happen in order to pass court. First, the birthmother has to appear and relinquish her rights. She will have to travel a long way in order to do this. Second, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA) must attach their approval to both our dossier paperwork and E’s paperwork. Third, the Central Authority must also attach their approval document.

If we pass court, they must issue a court decree before we can have our embassy appointment to get E’s visa for her to be able to enter the US. The embassy MUST have this no less than 2 weeks before the embassy appointment.

There is an extremely slight chance all this could happen quickly and make the Dec. 28 embassy appointment travel group. It is NOT likely this will be the case, especially since our case manager has prepared to have 2 court appointments because of the difficulty in getting E’s birthmother to appear in court and some recent paperwork issues other families have experienced. If/when we do not pass court the first time, our next court date would be about 3 to 5 weeks after Dec. 2.

My main hope is that E is home before her first birthday on Feb. 19. This seems feasible even with the likelihood of 2 court dates.

I also received word that my friend S whose daughter is with E at HH has court the same day. We are praying that regardless of what happens, we will be able to travel with them.