We Have A Decree

Today at 1:00 was our court hearing for the adoption of Alex. Our coordinator arrived at our apartment in the morning, and we left for a day of running around to get various approvals and documents prior to and after the court hearing. We arrived at the court house around 12:55 for our 1:00 hearing (they like to cut things close here). At 1:20 we were called into the court room. Along with us was our coordinator/translator, the local inspector (Olga), and the orphanage lawyer. First the secretary and the computer guy showed up to set up the desktop computer system to take notes. That took 10 minutes. Then the Judge and two witnesses entered the room. The three of them sat at the front of the room slightly elevated from our position in big black leather chairs. The lights were not on, so the room was dim. The light from the windows was dull since it was raining outside (again). Nobody looked at each other as the secretary struggled to get the information required to start up on the screen. Everyone just stared at the floor except us. The Judge looked perturbed at the fact that the computer was delaying things. Then, as if a silent starter gun went off, the Judge spoke. Our translator translated what he was saying. He read through some formalities for what seemed to be forever. Probably not long but seemed that way since we had no idea what he was saying until it was translated. He then asked us if we understood our rights.....Yes. Then we were asked to rise and state our names, addresses, date and place of birth. Then we were asked to sit down. He said some more, then we were asked to stand back up. Stated what we did for a living, the companies we worked for, our titles, and our incomes. They then started into the additional questions after we sat down and were asked again to stand (you get the drill). What living arrangements, how we would provide for the health of the child.... etc. They asked what qualifications Lara has to be a mother after asking Scott if Lara had any biological children. Then one of the witnesses was allowed to ask some questions. He asked how we would overcome the language barrier and do we have any support in the community to help with the language. The Judge seemed a bit bothered by these questions. Then the Judge turned to the Inspector and the orphanage lawyer and asked for their opinion on what was best for Alex. They stated that being adopted by us was in Alex's best interest. This was great news!

We now had the approval of the Adoption Center, the Inspector and the baby house and now it was the moment to find out if the Judge/Court approved. The Judge read some more formalities and then stated that he felt it was in Alex's best interest to be adopted by us. We all stood as the Judge and witnesses quickly walked out, and that was it. The entire hearing with formalities and questions lasted 45 minutes.

We then left the court house to sign some other documents at the notary down the street. Then we returned to the court house awhile later. We were then taken back to the Judge's chamber where he read us the decree they had written. This was formal and was being recorded. The decree was long so we stood and listened to him read it while he stood next to a big black and white photo of Leonid Brezhnev (surreal). When he was done, it was more relaxed and we thanked him and asked to take a photo. He seemed pleased that we asked. We won't post the photo as we don't want to risk offending the Court.

With the decree in hand, we now wait for ten days before we can process more documents. The waiting period will last until April 15th. At that point we can to to the Agency for Vital Records and get a new birth certificate and Ukrainian passport. Most importantly, we can take custody of Alex at the end of the ten day waiting period and take him from the baby house!