North Carolina General Statutes
Article 1 - General Provisions.
§ 48-1-109 - Which agencies may prepare assessments and reports to the court.

48-1-109. Which agencies may prepare assessments and reports to the court.
(a) Except as authorized in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, only a county department of social services in this State or an agency licensed by the Department may prepare preplacement assessments pursuant to Article 3 of this Chapter or reports to the court pursuant to Article 2 of this Chapter.
(b) A preplacement assessment prepared in another state may be used in this State only if:
(1) The prospective adoptive parent resided in the state where it was prepared; and
(2) The person or entity that prepared it was authorized by the law of that state to gather the necessary information.
(c) An order for a report to the court must be sent to a county department of social services in this State, an agency licensed by the Department, or a person or entity authorized to prepare home assessments for the purpose of adoption proceedings under the laws of the petitioner's state of residence. If the petitioner moves to a different state before the agency completes the report, the agency shall request a report from a person or entity authorized to prepare home assessments for the purpose of adoption proceedings under the laws of the petitioner's new state residence. (1949, c. 300; 1961, c. 186; 1969, c. 982; 1973, c. 476, s. 138; 1983, c. 454, s. 5; 1991, c. 335, s. 2; 1995, c. 457, s. 2; 1998-202, s. 13(h); 2009-185, s. 1; 2015-54, s. 2.)