I had the good fortune of being born into a family with three parents: my birth parents, plus my birth-mother's best friend, who'd already been living with them (long story) before I was born. I needed that good fortune, because my family thinned out early on: my birth-mother died when I was 8, and my birth-father (never really interested in his children; benign neglect), who was happy to let the "lodger" (whom I regard as my "true mother") raise my brother and I, himself died when I was 13. When that happened, my "true mother" continued to be a parent in the same capacity as before (that is, 100%), but, legally, she became our "guardian" and we became not just her children, but children of a modest family estate. I would never get to spend this inheritance myself (exhausted before I turned 20), but it was a big part of my life; being drawn upon to cover 50% of raising us (my mother took on the other 50%, by choice), I remember repeatedly going to court, where she would have to justify her spending to a judge, periodically. Since she died, 1 1/2 years ago, my brother and I are STILL dealing with her (very impoverished) estate. However - as if the nature of our family was not exceptional enough, on its own - all of our business transits an ocean & an international border, as - while I live in the UK now - my brother & I were born & raised in Canada. It's tricky. Our latest challenge is getting a document approved, where a lawyer would witness it. Under Scots Law, the certifying lawyer must initial a hand-written declaration. Under Canadian &/or Québec law (similar to Scotland, outside of criminal law, Québec has a separate legal system... & the estate is split between there & another province), it requires an official stamp or seal, not used in Scotland. Already, an estate is a sobering reality, taken on at a time when one is most emotional, & these international complications are the icing on the cake! SERIOUSLY, if anyone out there has experience in reconciling UK & Canadian law (IDEALLY, Scots Law & the Québec Civil Code!), I would be appreciative of any help they might be able to provide: da_outaouais [at] yahoo.co.uk