How to Make Sure Your Papers Are in Order

* You're a first-time applicant.

* Your passport was lost, stolen or damaged. (If it was lost or stolen, you must also complete form DS-64.)

* Your old passport expired and was issued more than 15 years ago or when you were younger than 16.

* Your name has changed since your last passport was issued and you do not have the legal documentation to prove it.

* You're a minor, 14 to 17 years old. A parent or legal guardian (with ID) must be present if the teenager does not have acceptable identification. Parental consent also may be requested. For children younger than 16, consent and/or appearance by both parents or legal guardians is required, as is proof of relationship (e.g., their names on the child's certified birth certificate).

And, yes, even newborns and toddlers need a passport and must be present when their parents apply on their behalf.

Application materials include form DS-11 (but unlike the mail-in, do not sign it until the passport official gives the word); proof of U.S. citizenship, including a birth or naturalization certificate, among other official documents; personal identification, such as a valid driver's license or military ID; two 2-by-2-inch passport photos taken in the past six months; and payment of $100 (16 and older) or $85 (younger than 16).

Where do I go to apply in person?

There are more than 9,000 passport acceptance facilities nationwide, including many federal, state and probate courts, post offices, public libraries and county and municipal offices. The department's Web site ( http://iafdb.travel.state.gov) will help you find outposts in your neighborhood. In the District, for example, the post offices at 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW and 3430 Connecticut Ave. NW provide such services, but only during specific hours or by appointment, so check ahead.

I'm in a hurry -- my trip is in a few weeks!

For expedited service, you can apply by mail or in person. For the mail-in, send in the requisite materials plus an additional $60 and overnight delivery costs. Write "Expedited" on the envelope; no proof of departure is required. To ensure timely delivery -- three weeks door-to-door -- splurge on two-way overnight delivery.

If you're leaving in two weeks or less, don't risk the mail. Instead make an appointment with a Passport Agency. Bring with you all of the necessary documents and the extra $60. In Washington, the center is at 1111 19th St. NW and is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can schedule an appointment via automated service at 877-487-2778.

For even faster -- but costlier -- service, employ a private company that can deliver your passport in a jiffy, say 24 hours. American Passport Express (800-841-6778, http://www.americanpassport.com), for one, lists turnaround times of one to two days, two to four, four to six, and seven to 12. Prices, which include government fees, run from $376 (new applicant, one to two days) to $206 (renewal, a week to 12 days). Other companies include PassportsVisaExpress.com (888-596-6028, http://www.passportvisaexpress.com) and All American Passports (866-760-8977, http://www.allamericanpassports.com).

Where can I find additional help?

For advice or a status report on your application, contact the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778 or check online at http://https://passportstatus.state.gov/opss/OPSS_Status_i.asp. The site will let you know whether your application has been received by Passport Services and about when to expect your passport. Currently, it is taking about a week to 10 days for an application to be tracked online.