48-3-301. Preplacement assessment required.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, placement of a minor may occur only if a written preplacement assessment:
(1) Has been completed or updated within the 18 months immediately preceding the placement; and
(2) Contains a finding that the individual who is the subject of the assessment is suitable to be an adoptive parent, either in general or for a specific minor.
(b) A preplacement assessment is not required in an independent adoption when a prospective adoptive parent is a grandparent, full or half sibling, first cousin, aunt, uncle, great-aunt, great-uncle, or great-grandparent of the minor.
(c) If a direct placement is made in violation of this section:
(1) The prospective adoptive parent shall request any preplacement assessment already commenced to be expedited, and if none has been commenced, shall obtain a preplacement assessment from an agency as authorized by G.S. 48-1-109; in either case, the assessment shall include the fact and date of placement;
(2) The court may not enter a decree of adoption until both a favorable preplacement assessment and a report to the court have been completed and filed, and the court may not order a report to the court for at least 30 days after the preplacement assessment has been completed; and
(3) If the person who placed the minor executes a consent before receiving a copy of the preplacement assessment, G.S. 48-3-608 shall determine the time within which that person may revoke. (1949, c. 300; 1957, c. 778, s. 2; 1967, c. 880, s. 2; 1987, c. 716, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 410; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1995, c. 457, s. 2; 1997-215, s. 19(a); 2015-54, s. 7.)
Structure North Carolina General Statutes
North Carolina General Statutes
Article 3 - Adoption of Minors.
§ 48-3-100 - Application of Article.
§ 48-3-201 - Who may place minors for adoption.
§ 48-3-202 - Direct placement for adoption.
§ 48-3-203 - Agency placement adoption.
§ 48-3-204 - Recruitment of adoptive parents.
§ 48-3-205 - Disclosure of background information.
§ 48-3-206 - Affidavit of parentage.
§ 48-3-207 - Interstate placements.
§ 48-3-301 - Preplacement assessment required.
§ 48-3-302 - Request for preplacement assessment.
§ 48-3-303 - Content and timing of preplacement assessment.
§ 48-3-304 - Fees for preplacement assessment.
§ 48-3-305 - Agency disposition of preplacement assessments.
§ 48-3-306 - Favorable preplacement assessments.
§ 48-3-307 - Assessments completed after placement.
§ 48-3-308 - Response to unfavorable preplacement assessment.
§ 48-3-401 - "Health care facility" and "attending practitioner" defined.
§ 48-3-402 - Authorization required to transfer physical custody.
§ 48-3-501 - Petitioner entitled to custody in direct placement adoptions.
§ 48-3-502 - Agency entitled to custody in placement by agency.
§ 48-3-601 - Persons whose consent to adoption is required.
§ 48-3-602 - Consent of incompetent parents.
§ 48-3-603 - Persons whose consent is not required.
§ 48-3-604 - Execution of consenttiming.
§ 48-3-605 - Execution of consentprocedures.
§ 48-3-606 - Content of consent; mandatory provisions.
§ 48-3-607 - Consequences of consent.
§ 48-3-608 - Revocation of consent.
§ 48-3-609 - Challenges to validity of consent.
§ 48-3-610 - Collateral agreements.
§ 48-3-701 - Individuals who may relinquish minor; timing.
§ 48-3-702 - Procedures for relinquishment.
§ 48-3-703 - Content of relinquishment; mandatory provisions.
§ 48-3-704 - Content of relinquishment; optional provisions.
§ 48-3-705 - Consequences of relinquishment.