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Adopting in North Carolina
Adoption in North Carolina
North Carolina, "First in Flight," and a state with seemingly standard adoption laws. Any one over the age of 18 may adopt in North Carolina, and they require 90 days of home residency prior to finalizing the adoption. Adoptive families are allowed to provide financial assistance for their Birth Mom. Medical expenses, legal expenses and up to 10 hours of counseling may be covered, as well as any travel or temporary living expenses that are associated with the pregnancy and birth. Fun fact: Krispy Kreme donuts originated in North Carolina.
Home Study Providers in North Carolina
PairTree Home Study
The Modern Way to Home Study
Adoption Attorneys in North Carolina
10 Adoption Agencies in NC
11 
AAAA Attorneys in NC
Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys
Who’s Waiting to Adopt in North Carolina
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(206) 279-7578
Personality Type
Most Common Personality Types Amoung Waiting Families on PairTree
Data is from LifePair™ - Our proprietary, personality-based matching system.
Average Age
38 years old
Profession
Most Common Professions Amoung Waiting Families on PairTree
Family Structure
Political Affiliation
Education
Race
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Traveling For Your Adoption in North Carolina
Length of ICPC
in North Carolina
1-30 days
Email: NC.ICPC@dhhs.nc.gov
North Carolina participates in the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) – a statutory agreement between all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands. The agreement governs the placement of children from one state into another state. It sets forth the requirements that must be met before a child can be placed out of state. The Compact ensures prospective placements are safe and suitable before approval, and it ensures that the individual or entity placing the child remains legally and financially responsible for the child following placement.
Adoption Law FAQ in North Carolina
Advertising Law Info
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Can adoptive parents advertise for birth parents?
Yes.
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State Advertising Code of Law
Citation: Gen. Stat. § 48-10-101(b)-(b1)
No one other than a county department of social services, an adoption facilitator, or a licensed agency may advertise in any periodical or newspaper, or by radio, television, or other public medium, that any person or entity will place or accept a child for adoption.
This article shall not prohibit a person from advertising that the person desires to adopt. This section shall apply only to a person with a current completed preplacement assessment that finds the person suitable to be an adoptive parent.
The advertisement may be published only in a periodical or newspaper or on radio, television, cable television, or the Internet. The advertisement shall include a statement that:
1) Indicates that the person has a completed preplacement assessment
2) Identifies the name of the agency that completed the preplacement assessment
3) Identifies the date the preplacement assessment was completed
4) States whether the person is willing to provide lawful expenses
Adoption Law Info
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Who Can Adopt?
Any adult, except a married couple canât adopt his/her spouse.
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Can out-of-state residents finalize an adoption?
Yes.
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Can adopting parents use an adoption facilitator or another paid intermediary?
Only a parent, guardian or agency may place a minor for adoption, but the facilitator canât charge for services.
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What birth parent expenses may be paid, and in what time period?
Medical (including travel), legal, counseling when directly related to adoption, living. Court approval of expenses required. No reimbursement unless fraud by birthparent is proved. Up to 6 weeks postpartum.
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When does consent become irrevocable? If consent is revoked, is return to birth parent automatic?
7 days after signing. If last day falls on a weekend or holiday, revocation period extends to next business day. After that, consent only revocable if obtained by fraud or duress. Return is automatic.
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Qualifications for Adoptive Parents for adoption
Citation: Gen. Stat. § 48-3-301
An individual seeking to adopt a child must be found to be suitable to be an adoptive parent, either in general or for a specific minor.
Home Study Info
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Elements of a Home Study for Adoption
Citation: Gen. Stat. §§ 48-3-303; 48-3-309
The preplacement assessment must include at least one personal interview with each individual being assessed. The preplacement assessment shall report on the following:
• Age, nationality, race or ethnicity, and any religious preference
• Marital and family status and history
• Physical and mental health, including any addiction to alcohol or drugs
• Education and employment history and any special skills
• Property, income, and current financial information
• Reason for wanting to adopt
• Whether the individual has ever been a respondent in a domestic violence proceeding or a proceeding concerning a minor who was allegedly abused, dependent, neglected, abandoned, or delinquent
• Whether the individual has ever been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation
• The quality of the environment in the home and the functioning of any children in the household
The department shall ensure that fingerprint-based criminal histories of all prospective adoptive parents and all individuals age 18 or older who reside in the prospective adoptive home are checked prior to placement and, based on the criminal history, a determination is made as to the prospective adoptive parent(s)â fitness to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children and whether other individuals required to be checked are fit for an adoptive child to reside with them in the home. The department shall ensure that all individuals required to be checked are checked prior to placement for county, State, and Federal criminal histories. -
Grounds for Withholding Approval for Adoption
Citation: Gen. Stat. § 48-3-309
A county department of social services shall issue an unfavorable preplacement assessment to a prospective adoptive parent if any person residing in the home has a criminal history. An unfavorable preplacement assessment shall be issued when the county department of social services determines that, based on other criminal convictions, whether felony or misdemeanor, the prospective adoptive parent is unfit to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children or other individuals required to be checked are unfit for an adoptive child to reside with them in the home.
For purposes of this section, the term âcriminal historyâ means:
• A county, State, or Federal conviction of a felony or a pending felony indictment of:
o A crime for child abuse or neglect
o Spousal abuse
o A crime against a child, including child pornography
o A crime involving violence, including rape, sexual assault, or homicide, other than physical assault or battery
A county, State, or Federal conviction of a felony or a pending felony indictment for physical assault, battery, or a drug-related offense, if the offense was committed within the past 5 years
Refusal to consent to a criminal history check by any individual required to be checked is grounds for the issuance of an unfavorable preplacement assessment. -
When Home Studies Must Be Completed for Adoption
Citation: Gen. Stat. § 48-3-301
A preplacement assessment must be completed or updated within 18 months immediately preceding a placement of a child for adoption. -
Postplacement Study Requirements for Adoption
Citation: Gen. Stat. §§ 48-2-501; 48-2-502
Whenever a petition for adoption of a minor is filed, the court shall order a report to the court made to assist the court to determine if the proposed adoption of the minor by the petitioner is in the minorâs best interests.
In preparing the report, the agency shall conduct a personal interview with each petitioner in the petitionerâs residence and at least one additional interview with each petitioner and the adoptive child. The agency shall observe the relationship between the child and the petitioners.
The report must contain:
• An account of the petitionerâs marital or family status, physical and mental health, home environment, property, income, and financial obligations
• All reasonably available nonidentifying information concerning the physical, mental, and emotional condition of the adoptive child
• Copies of any court order, judgment, decree, or pending legal proceeding affecting the adoptive child, the petitioner, or any child of the petitioner relevant to the welfare of the adoptive child
• A list of the expenses, fees, or other charges incurred, paid, or to be paid in connection with the adoption
• Any fact or circumstance known to the agency that raises a specific concern about whether the proposed adoption is contrary to the best interests of the adoptive child because it poses a significant risk of harm to the well-being of the child
• Any fact or circumstance known to the agency that raises a specific concern about whether the proposed adoption is contrary to the best interests of the adoptive child because it poses a significant risk of harm to the well-being of the child
• A recommendation concerning the granting of the petition