{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-48-2-304","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 48-2-304","heading":"Petition for adoption; content.","body":"(a)\tThe original petition for adoption must be signed and verified by each petitioner, and the original and two exact or conformed copies shall be filed with the clerk of court. The petition shall state:\n(1)\tEach petitioner's full name, current address, place of domicile if different from current address, and whether each petitioner has resided or been domiciled in this State for the six months immediately preceding the filing of the petition;\n(2)\tThe marital status and gender of each petitioner;\n(3)\tThe sex and, if known, the date and state or country of birth of the adoptee;\n(4)\tThe full name by which the adoptee is to be known if the petition is granted;\n(5)\tThat the petitioner desires and agrees to adopt and treat the adoptee as the petitioner's lawful child; and\n(6)\tIf the adoptee is a minor or an adult who has been adjudicated incompetent, a description and estimate of the value of any property of the adoptee.\n(b)\tAny petition to adopt a minor shall also state:\n(1)\tThe length of time the adoptee has been in the physical custody of the petitioner.\n(2)\tIf the adoptee is not in the physical custody of the petitioner, the reason why the petitioner does not have physical custody and the date and manner in which the petitioner intends to acquire custody.\n(3)\tThat the petitioner has the resources, including those available under a subsidy for an adoptee with special needs, to provide for the care and support of the adoptee.\n(4)\tAny information required by the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, Article 2 of Chapter 50A of the General Statutes, which is known to the petitioner.\n(5)\tThat any required assessment has been completed or updated within the 18 months before the placement.\n(6)\tThat all necessary consents, relinquishments, or terminations of parental rights have been obtained and will be filed as additional documents with the petition; or that the necessary consents, relinquishments, and terminations of parental rights that have been obtained will be filed as additional documents with the petition, along with the document listing the names of any other individuals whose consent, relinquishment, or termination of rights may be necessary but has not been obtained.\n(c)\tA petition to adopt a minor under Article 3 of this Chapter shall also state all of the following:\n(1)\tA description of the source of placement and the date of placement of the adoptee with the petitioner.\n(2)\tThat the provisions of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children, Article 38 of Chapter 7B of the General Statutes, were followed if the adoptee was brought into this State from another state for purposes of adoption, or that a statement is attached describing the circumstances of any noncompliance.\n(d)\tA petition to adopt a minor under Article 4 of this Chapter shall also state:\n(1)\tThe date of the petitioner's marriage, the name of the petitioner's spouse, and whether the spouse is deceased or has been adjudicated incompetent;\n(2)\tThe length of time the petitioner's spouse or the petitioner has had legal custody of the adoptee and the circumstances under which custody was acquired; and\n(3)\tThat the adoptee has resided primarily with the petitioner or with the petitioner and the petitioner's spouse during the six months immediately preceding the filing of the petition.\n(e)\tAny petition to adopt an adult shall also state:\n(1)\tThe name, age, and last known address of any child of the prospective adoptive parent, including a child previously adopted by the prospective adoptive parent or the adoptive parent's spouse, and the date and place of the adoption; and\n(2)\tThe name, age, and last known address of any living parent, spouse, or child of the adoptee.\n(f)\tThe Department may promulgate a standard adoption petition. (1949, c. 300; 1961, c. 186; 1969, c. 982; 1973, c. 476, s. 138; 1995, c. 88, s. 5; c. 457, s. 2; 1998-202, s. 13(k); 1999-223, s. 9; 2001-150, s. 2; 2005-166, s. 3; 2012-16, s. 2.)","path":["Chapter 48. Adoptions.","Article 2. General Adoption Procedure.","Part 3. Petition for Adoption."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_48/GS_48-2-304.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:04:02Z","sha256":"62e1f4f681bb30efa09a9c77e7c7c5a3fe54572e2ac84fee0bc9ede7237f040f","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-48-2-303","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-48-2-305"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}