I am royally screwed.

 So, here I am, 23 days from my visa running out.

 We have put off getting married to make sure that we could work out some issues.

 Finally, at the 11th hour, we've decided to go through with it.

 We have an appointment tomorrow morning in Brighton to give notice to marry, putting our wedding date somewhere around the 20th. Last minute, woo-hoo.

 So I am getting everything together that I will need for tomorrow and I notice that my final decree of divorce is not signed by the judge?
 I had three copies, and this is the copy I sent in when applying for my visa.

 No worries, I think! I have two more copies in another folder.....I tear apart the flat and I can not find it ANYWHERE. I know I left Arkansas with it, but when I arrived at Heathrow my bag had been left unzipped by the tsa's and my belongings were dumped out EVERYWHERE. This is the only place that I know of that it could've been misplaced.  I am having a heart attack and cursing myself repeatedly.
I have emailed the court to see how hard it would be to have a decree absolute faxed over to Brighton ASAP, but they have yet to respond. I want to cry. I can be such an unprepared idiot sometimes.

 I think I am about to have a panic attack, thanks for the venting space.

Can you have a family member go pick up another copy and FedEx it to you or Fax it to the Office?

 I have called my mom a few times...I know she'll do it as soon as she can but she won't be off work until an hour or so after the courts close today. Maybe tomorrow though? This is my punishment for waiting til the last minute.

I have called my mom a few times *but she has yet to answer. oops

Hang in there, I am sure it will all come together. Don't worry. Just take deep breaths and keep trying to reach your mom. If you sent that decree absolute in for your visa, maybe they will accept it tomorrow. If they ask questions about it, tell them that is the copy you sent off to get your fiance visa and you weren't aware there would be a problem with it. And if they won't accept it, then just see how long they will give you to get the other one from the states. You'll be fine. I realise I am hopelessly optimistic sometimes, but really, I've learned that lots of times in the past I have worried over nothing.

 Thank you Jewlz, I needed a helthy dose of optimism:)

 That is "plan a" at the moment, play dumb and hope that it's enough. I also have a letter on official court letterhead stating the date of my hearing...

 If it's not enough, the clerks at the court that I was divorced at are really friendly and helpful and I bet I could get something faxed over pronto.

 I am punching myself repeatedly for not checking over the papers anytime in the last 5 months. Bahhh! This is the story of my life, and I am the only one to blame.

Hang in there Dangerface, take a deep breath because when panic takes over, no one is able to make things move quickly and correctly.  I am sending you as much good luck as I can!!!  And congrats on working through everything these past five months!!! 

Couldn't dangerface apply for an extension of her visa? I believe someone had asked about extensions of fiance visas not too long ago...

In order to get an extension on a fiance(e) visa you have to prove EXTREME extenuating circumstances...like a divorce that hadn't been finalised yet, or someone is ill and hospitalised...so, no I don't think this would qualify. Plus, it is another additional cost because the OP would have to extend hers and her child's and then turn around and apply for another 2 visas!

So, extension not really an option in this case.

I am punching myself repeatedly for not checking over the papers anytime in the last 5 months. Bahhh! This is the story of my life, and I am the only one to blame.

Don't kick yourself too much. It was good that you waited to make sure getting married was the right thing for everyone involved. Besides, we've all been known to misplace things for "safe keeping." It will all work out. 

 So, I'm just back from Brighton!!

 The man at the registry office didn't say anything about a lack of signature, but he has to forward it all to the main registry office so who knows what they will say?

 Anyway my 16-day waiting period has officially begun!

YEAH!!!!!!  Fingers still crossed and sending you lots of good luck!

Thank you Miss Goods:)

 When are you coming down to tha' dirty south?

(Not being cutesy or gangster or anything, people literally leave dog poop EVERYWHERE in this town, so dirty.)

I have all of April and May off of school so I was thinking about doing a trip down that way then, how far are you from the London area?

Perhaps this should have been a PM