Road Trip to Columbus

So, yesterday was a road trip to Columbus.  Why? You ask.  Well, I finally finished up our side of the paperwork which was getting our physicals, completing a financial statement, completing a proof of housing statement, and obtaining certified copies of our marriage license.  Once these were obtained or completed, each piece of paper had to be notorized.  Then, they must be apostilled.  What?  I know.  Never heard that word before either.  Basically, eventhough the papers are notarized by someone official who is certified to notarize, the notary has to be proven official by the state the notary is from.  Huh?  This requires sending the papers to the Secretary of State (in Columbus) or presenting them in person and they attach a piece of paper to the document saying it is apostilled.  I chose the latter because I prefer to hand them to a person and receive them back to me versus trusting the mail or Fedex.  So, yesterday was such road trip to Columbus.

My dad came with me on the trip which was nice for company and for having an extra driver (I had him drive us back).  We made a visit to my cousin, Rena, who lives in northeast Columbus.  She has an 8 month old daughter, River, that I was excited to see, also. 

One glitch -A couple of the papers I had notarized by my adoption lawyer who has a notary stamp that never expires.  The other papers I had notarized by a notary at the Whitehouse Village Administrative building because it was close and convenient and they needed to complete the proof of housing form.  That notary stamp has an expiration though so, there is another step required before apostilling (your guess is as good as mine as to how to pronounce it).  I needed to verify or "authenticate" that notary at the County Clerk of Courts from which it was received.  Ugggghhhh???!!!!
Second glitch-Not only that but, my copies of my marriage certificate was not signed by the correct person, so I needed to get new ones.  Aaaaaahhhh!!!!!

Ok.  After researching where the Lucas County Clerk of Courts office is I discover it's in the same building I need to go to get my marriage certificate.  Yea! 
So, Monday I plan on getting both done and then Express mailing them to Columbus.  Yikes!  I know.  I said I didn't trust the post office but $17.95 is a bit cheaper than driving back to Columbus.  And things just keep adding up!

To be continued Monday.....