The other day I looked at how some of the subtle differences in apostilles--the official seal that certifies your adoption paperwork as authentic--can trip up your adoption in Russia. Now I want to look at some ways to avoid having trouble in the first place.

None of these steps is 100% certain--nothing in an adoption in Russia ever is. But with a bit of common sense and vigilance, I think you can improve your chances of a smooth adoption journey. I should say at the outset though that a good apostille means nothing if it is affixed to bad paperwork: With every document that you have notarized, make sure that the notary's commission is going to expire long after you return from Russia.

And know that, as your agency is trying to explain the differences in state apostille formats to a Russian judge, some people in America are working to close the gaps. The National Association of Secretaries of State's Notary Public Administrators' section is trying to get a more uniform approach across the U.S.

But here are some steps that I would take if I were adopting again. By all means, if you have developed your own strategy for managing the mountain of paperwork that we face as adoptive parents, please share your tips with the crowd.

1. Check your state with your agency: Some agencies used to work only with families who lived in their state. But as the ranks of adoption agencies operating in Russia have shrunk, more agencies are drawing in families farther from their home base. And that means new formats for the judges to consider. Ask your agency whether the judges in the region you are considering have ever raised objections to apostilles issued by your state. Ask which state apostilles the judges like best. If possible, get all your documents notarized and apostilled in the same state.

2. Get a copy of that state's apostille format: No, you are not going to convince the average desk clerk to move the state seal right if it is always left. But it can be an interesting education process for all involved to see how the process of your state compares to the state the judges like best. (This is the Hague Convention's apostille model). And it can prepare you to explain your documents if, because of work or life situations, they cannot all be apostilled in the same state.

3. Go to the right place for your apostille: This document, from the U.S. Department of State, lists the competent authentication authorities for each state.

4. Tell them which country you are going to: As inter-country adoption has grown, state clerks have become more familiar with the apostille interests of different countries. Russia is different than China and China is different than Guatemala or Ethiopia. Every document you send for apostille should have a cover note that states prominently which country you will be involved with.

5. Check every document before you leave the state's office: If a signature is smudged, if a seal seems too light, that is the time to set things right.

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